The police were tipped off after Ethan Stables told people about his plan on Facebook.

A 20-year-old man has been arrested in the UK after he told friends he planned to attack a local Pride event to "slaughter the gay bastards".

Police were tipped off after Ethan Stables used Facebook Messenger to relay his plans to attack the New Empire pub in Barrow with a machete after learning they were hosting an LGBTQI+ Pride event, despite the protests of those he was speaking to.

According to one Tweet that posted screenshots of the interaction, Stables reportedly commented: "I don't want to live in a gay world and I sure as hell don't want my children living in one".

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"What happened to our traditional qualities?" the message continued, "They're f***ing ruined. I don't care if I die, I'm fighting for what I believe in and that is the future of my country, my folk, and my race."

Stables also posted a picture of a "British army issue machete" that he apparently purchased for £20.

The BBC reports that Stables had researched weapons including how to make his own firearms and explosives.

Apparently, the man's defence conceded that while many of his posts to a Nazi Facebook chat group were "vile", "He never expected anyone to believe what he had to say".

They also claimed Stables wasn't a white supremacist but a "fantasist", has Asperger's Syndrome, a favourite uncle who is gay as well as a best friend who is black.

After his arrest, Stables was released on bail, saying he was being monitored by police after having his phone confiscated.