Supremacist who sparked Newcastle siege is wanted by FBI

Gunman Michael Andrew Leahy faces extradition for a string of crimes in America after British armed officers arrested him for threatening his neighbour with a replica pistol.

A security guard spotted 27-year-old Leahy aim the replica pistol at his neighbour's head and shout threats, and called in a team of police marksmen.

Your Homes Newcastle concierge Tony Lenny, 39, said he saw Leahy lift the weapon with both hands and pointed it at William Cook, an Iranian who changed his name by deed-poll.

He said: "I was at the computer when I heard Mr Cook shouting that he was being threatened with a gun.

"I looked at the monitor and could see a man holding a gun with two hands up at Mr Cook.

"We go on training courses but you never expect something like that to happen."

The caretaker added: "You just use your initiative and act on instinct. I called the police and immediately started making copies of the tape so I could hand them to the police.

"I was worried about what was going to happen to Mr Cook. It was all happening about 12 feet away from me - there was a door and an office window between me and them and at the time I didn't know that this was a toy gun."

Mr Cook had telephoned the police to complain he had been racially abused.

It was alleged the 7th-floor resident of The Hawthorns tower block, Cruddas Park, in Newcastle had been awoken in the early hours of April 8 by shouting from a flat below.

He looked through his front door spy-hole to see a man he recognised who had earlier disturbed him by playing loud music. A liquid, suspected of being urine, was then poured through the victim's letter box.

He alerted the police shortly after 3.30am and dressed to go downstairs to wait for them at the caretaker's office.

Leahy confronted the frightened victim outside the caretaker's office by pulling out a black pistol from his jacket.

Leahy was arrested later the same morning at a nearby block of flats in The Cedars.

The 27-year-old, who is a naturalised UK citizen but with dual British/American nationality, pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation pistol with intent to cause Mr Cook to believe unlawful violence would be used against him, and was remanded in custody until June 22.

It is understood officers found white supremacist books and literature in his flat and a Swastika on his wall.

Leahy is wanted in America for a felony possession/use of a weapon and another count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/vehicle in Tazewell County, Illinois.

He admitted possession of child pornography images when American police at his home town in Minier, Illinois interviewed him and searched his home on September 10, 2002.

A warrant was issued for his arrest on December 9th 2002.

He fled the USA and came to Newcastle via Ireland.

A police spokesman said: "We are liaising with the FBI over alleged offences committed in America."

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Leahy came to Newcastle as a student in January 2003.

His mother is from the Ferryhill area of County Durham and is now living in America.

Leahy on Tuesday pleaded guilty over a live TV link to Durham prison at Newcastle Crown Court to possessing an imitation BB pistol with intent to cause William Cook to believe unlawful violence would be used against him.

The case was adjourned for probation service and psychiatric reports.

Leahy had lived at 407 South Minier Avenue, Minier, Ilinois. He was indicted by the grand jury for federal offences on November 22, 2002.

It is expected an application will be made by American law enforcers to have him extradited to face court for the other offences following sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.