Teenager who plotted mass killing of Muslims 'infiltrated' mosque by pretending to be a convert

Daily Mail​

11-07-2025

A teenager who plotted mass murder at a Scots mosque after pretending he wanted to become a Muslim was radicalised on TikTok.
The now 17-year-old idolised right-wing killers such as Anders Breivik who slaughtered 77 people in Norway in 2011 and spoke online about white people being at 'war' pledging to 'die for my land'.
A court heard how police intelligence allowed officers to intercept the armed youth outside the Inverclyde Muslim Centre, in Greenock.
He had an airgun which he claimed would keep worshippers inside once he had set the building on fire.
The boy, who can't be named for legal reasons, had been able to plan his attack by hoodwinking the centre's Imam into believing that he wanted to become a Muslim.
He was trusted at times to be left alone in the building which allowed him to make sketches and videos of the layout.
The teen also went as far as to join in with prayers in a bid to convince others of his lies.
Today, he pleaded guilty to a charge under the Terrorism Act at the High Court in Glasgow.
He also admitted to having been in possession of documents likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
The crimes spanned between December 15, 2024 and January 23, 2025.
The court heard how the boy - who suffers from autism - had become 'radicalised' since the age of 13 by social media channels such as TikTok.
He believed that white people were in a 'war' against other races such as Jews and he 'developed sympathies' with the Nazi party.
The boy created his own 'manifesto' on his mobile phone in which he said he would 'die for my land' and listed a number of 'inspirations' which included Breivik, Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Irish fascist leader Eoin O'Duffy.
He also created a list of dislikes which included Keir Starmer, the prophet Mohammed and Jihadi John.
The youth initially had plans to carry out a terrorist attack at his school in Inverclyde and recorded himself walking through the school in which he stated he planned to 'liquidate' one of the offices.
He also claimed that he would plant bombs under the tables of the school canteen and added: 'That'll be funny, watch some reactions, that'll be hilarious.'
The teenager planned to attack the Inverclyde Muslim Centre last December.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell said: 'This involved the use of aerosols and lighters to set fire to the premises.'
The boy spoke to the centre's Imam online and was later provided with reading materials.
Mr Farrell added: 'The boy went as far as to take part in prayer with the congregation of the Islamic Centre.
'He was trusted to be left alone in the centre and he took several videos wandering the corridors of the building.
'In one video, he enters a room and his own hand enters the shot, shaped like a gun.'
The boy then began searching images of the centre online as well as weapons and combat clothing.
He went on to speak to an acquaintance on phone app Telegram.
The boy said: 'It's good to infiltrate the target be it a mosque or synagogue as they think I'm one of them because I infiltrated the place.'
He claimed that he could have burned down the centre when left alone but there would have been 'zero kills'.
Mr Farrell said: 'He told the user he would use a deodorant can and a lighter to start a fire and he had a BB gun that people would believe was a real firearm.
'He also said he would use it to prevent them leaving the building.'
The boy also asked the acquaintance to live stream the burning down of the mosque which would be shared with his manifesto.
He meantime tried to get a rifle licence but was unable to as his local club was closed at the time.
The boy prepared a 'final' manifesto in which he stated he would attack 'tomorrow' when 'the mosque will be at its fullest'.
On the morning of the planned attack, the boy left his home with a rucksack which concerned his mother.
He messaged friends, stating: 'Today, I choose what my life was and will be.'
The boy appeared at the Islamic Centre but was unable to enter as the door was locked.
Dressed in black clothes and carrying a camouflage military rucksack, he was met by officers acting on intelligence.
When asked what was in the bag, he replied: 'Guns, I'll tell you what's in the bag so you don't get hurt. I don't want to hurt you.'
A German manufactured air pistol - capable of firing BBs - was recovered as well as a magazine which was suitable for the gun.
He was also snared with ball bearings, gas cartridges, four cans of aerosol spray and his mobile phone.
The boy was further found to have notepads which contained sketches and right wing symbols such as swastikas.
A search of his home recovered a copy of Hitler's book Mein Kampf, a copy of the Quran, knives, airsoft weapons and ingredients for explosive substances.
An instruction manual on how to produce weapons and explosives, called 'The Anarchist Cookbook', was also discovered.
Tony Lenehan KC, defending, told the court: 'He was a 16-year-old isolated vulnerable young man who had a wholesale world view of what was on the internet rather than personal experience.'
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lord Arthurson.
The boy will remain remanded in a secure unit meantime.