Scottish neo-Nazi jailed for planning terror attacks

A Scottish neo-Nazi guilty of plans to commit an act of terrorism has been jailed for 10 years.

Alan Edward - who glorified Hitler - had discussed an attack on a Scots LGBT group.

The 55 year-old - who claimed to be a journalist - had amassed what was described as an "armoury" at his home in the Stirlingshire village of Redding.

This included a crossbow, 14 knives - some with Nazi and SS insignia - as well as a Samurai sword, knuckledusters, baton and stun gun.

He also had an air pistol, an SS-style skull mask, fighting gloves with specially-hardened knuckles, pellets and ball bearings.

'Ideologically-driven'

Prosecutors said Edward was "a man with clear neo-Nazi ideals...preparing for an act of terrorism" which would include "an ideologically-driven incident of serious violence".

Edward was convicted of four charges under the Terrorism Act following a trial in Stirling in September.

He was today/yesterday sentenced by Judge Fiona Tait at the High Court in Glasgow.

Edward appeared via video-link from prison where he had been on remand since September 2022.

She told Edward that he" publicly and extensively posted views of an extreme right-wing nature" and was found "in possession of numerous items" in circumstances that gave rise to suspicion it could be linked to a terrorist act.

Judge Tait: "The author of the risk assessment on you assesses you at high risk of re-offending.

"For such serious offences there is no appropriate alternative to a prison sentence.

"It is necessary to punish you and deter you and others from engaging in activities for the purposes of terrorism and to protect the public from you."

Edward will also be monitored for five years on his release.

Judge Tait further imposed a serious crime prevention order - known as a super-Asbo - which are designed to tackle and restrict the activities of criminals on their eventual release.

This will also be for five years.

Holocaust denier

Edward - who had 28,000 followers on social media - was known to be a Holocaust denier.

He also mocked the murder of George Floyd, killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020.

A document found on his computer referred to neo-Nazi mass murderer Anders Breivik as "Saint Anders".

Jurors heard he was said to have "notions of white supremacy, racial purity of whites, racism, anti-Semitism and hatred of homosexuals and transgender people".

Checks on his WhatsApp account revealed he had been messaging an associate in nearby Grangemouth - identified as "Pello" - about a proposed attack on the LGBT group, which met in Falkirk.

He was found to have used bigoted language in a series of texts expressing his desire to kill members of the transgender and Jewish communities.

They were described as "incredibly sinister".

Edward remarked of the LGBT group: "They have been pushing their luck for years. Now they will pay in blood."

He added: "We should get masked up and go do a few of them in at their little club."

Edward also had two accounts on Gab - a free speech social media platform popular with the far-right.

He came to the attention of counter-terrorism investigators after posting a video glorifying a banned far right group called National Action.

Drug and abuse conviction

Dad-of-one Edward - who was arrested in September 2022 - had denied the accusations that he faced.

The charges he was found guilty of included having ammunition and equipment for the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorist acts and encouraging terrorism.

He was separately convicted of racism, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and a breach of the peace.

Edward was further guilty of producing and supplying cannabis, possession of a stun gun as well as threatening and abusive behaviour.

Allan MacLeod, defending, today/yesterday said: "It is clear his online activities are not to be repeated. He understands that.

"He simply wants to put this matter behind him and concentrate on the future."

Detective Superintendent Stephen Clark, Head of Counter Terrorism Investigations at Police Scotland, said: “Edward shared extreme racist and homophobic content online with the aim of stirring up hatred and spreading fear and alarm. His complete disregard for the corrosive impact this could have on our communities heightened these dangerous actions.

“It is entirely unacceptable to promote terrorism or extremism, and this conviction displays how we will not hesitate to investigate online or offline behaviour which breaches terrorism or other criminal legislation.

“Holding an array of weaponry posed a clear and significant risk to the public which underlines the importance of him being brought to justice.

“We are committed to combatting terrorism and help and support from the public is vital. Anyone with information on a terrorist threat should contact Police Scotland on 101 immediately.”

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