Three anti-fascist activists have accused undercover police officer Carlo Soracchi of attempting to incite them to firebomb a shop believed to be a front for the far right, the UK spycops inquiry has heard. Soracchi, who infiltrated anti-fascist and leftwing groups between 2000 and 2006, has denied the claims.
In testimony, the activists said Soracchi made the suggestion on two occasions, which they immediately rejected. Joe Batty told the inquiry that at a New Year's Eve party in 2002, Soracchi raised the subject of Roberto Fiore, a fascist suspected of involvement in an Italian railway station bombing, and suggested it would be 'terrible' if a firebombing occurred at Fiore's charity shop. A few days later, Soracchi allegedly repeated the suggestion while driving Batty and another activist, Dan Gillman, past the shop.
Gillman has denied Soracchi's counter-claim that he proposed the firebombing, calling it an 'absolute lie'. Steve Hedley, a third activist, testified that he and others told Soracchi not 'to be so stupid', adding that the police wanted to entrap them because they had 'got absolutely nothing' from years of infiltration.
The inquiry also heard that Soracchi did not file a report about Gillman allegedly suggesting the plot, which Gillman argued he would have done if true. Soracchi is also facing allegations of fabricating or exaggerating reports and forming intimate relationships with three women under his fake identity. He is due to be questioned next month.
