Two teenage lovers are on trial. They are accused of terrorist offenses, including testing Molotov cocktails and attempting to buy a weapon.

18-year-old Rex William Henry Clark and 19-year-old Sofija Vinogradova are said to have communicated via Telegram and in chat rooms, where they are accused of having “right-wing extremist views”.

During a 15-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, it was found that the two had presented four videos in which they appeared to be testing homemade incendiary devices in the forest.

Prosecutor Louise Gray said the couple also searched the internet to identify possible victims.

Mr Clark, from Ilford, east London, was charged with preparing terrorist acts, including “acquiring components of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), making and testing Molotov cocktails and attempting to acquire a firearm”.

Ms Vinogradova, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was charged with assisting Clark to commit a terrorist act and two counts of collecting information likely to be of use to a person committing or preparing a terrorist act.

Ms Gray said the items she allegedly collected included an excerpt from an Islamic State publication entitled “We Must Fight Them” and the No Lives Matter (NLM) terror leader.

The alleged crimes are said to have taken place between June 1 and August 10.

Couple “shared extreme Telegram messages”

The court was informed that the couple had chatted in Telegram chat groups and allegedly displayed right-wing extremist views there.

The cell phones seized by police reportedly contained chat threads in which the perpetrators discussed carrying out a terrorist attack and purchasing a firearm.

Ms Gray said the pair had searched the internet for possible targets, adding they had also discussed testing incendiary devices and Molotov cocktails.

The teenagers were arrested by the Metropolitan Police’s anti-terrorism command.

In court, Mr Clark and Ms Vinogradova stood side by side, dressed in grey prison sweatshirts and tracksuit bottoms.

They spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses.

Ms Vinogradova, who is believed to be of Latvian descent, also offered the court help in pronouncing her name.

No application for bail was made and Joy Dykers, Deputy District Judge, remanded the couple in custody and ordered them to appear at the Old Bailey on September 13.