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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Tristan Kirk

‘Fake £10 notes with smoking Queen sent to police in terror plot’

Fake banknotes depicting the late Queen Elizabeth II smoking drugs and bags of sugar were sent to a series of police stations in an alleged terror campaign, a court has heard.

Andrew Ostromeki, 48, is accused of sending suspicous packages to eight police stations in Leicester at the start of April, with all of them arriving within the space of two days.

It is said they each contained a bag of white powder, which when tested proved to be household sugar.

Also in the parcels were notes, poker chips featuring smiley faces, crystals, and bogus £10 banknotes which show “Her Late Majesty smoking what appears to be a spliff”, Westminster magistrates court was told.

Ostromeki, from Loughborough in Leicestershire, has been charged by the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division with eight offences under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

It is said he “sent a substance, namely sugar, from one place to another, intending to induce in a person anywhere in the world a belief that it is likely to be or contain a noxious substance or other noxious thing and thereby endanger human life or create a serious risk to human health.”

Packages allegedly arrived at police stations at Spinney Hill, Juniper Lodge, Keyham Lane, Braunstone, Mansfield House, Euston Street, and Beaumont Leys , as well as the Leicestershire Police headquarters in Enderby on April 3 and 4.

Ostromeki was remanded in custody by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram on April 5, and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on April 28.

He has not entered any pleas to the charges.

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