British Neo-Nazi Sentenced to 13.5 Years for Planned London Terror Attack
Details of the Sentencing and Terror Plot
Overview of the Case
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - A British neo-Nazi who tried to buy a pistol and ammunition from undercover officers for a planned terrorist attack was jailed for 13-and-a-half years, police said on Wednesday.
Alfie Coleman, 22, was convicted in April of preparing acts of terrorism after a jury at London's Old Bailey found he had planned an attack motivated by an extreme right-wing ideology, including idolising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Undercover Operation and Arrest
• He was arrested in September 2023 after handing over £3,500 ($4,671) for what he believed was a pistol and 200 rounds of ammunition in an east London car park.
• The firearm deal was part of an undercover operation involving counter-terrorism police and Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5.
Motivation and Radicalisation
Influence of Extremist Figures
• Prosecutors said Coleman also idolised Thomas Mair, who murdered British lawmaker Jo Cox in 2016.
• Coleman wrote in a manifesto-style diary, "All people whom are not on our side must die."
Online Radicalisation
• Coleman was radicalised online from age 14 through extreme right-wing forums and groups, the Metropolitan Police said.
Evidence and Convictions
• Investigators found extremist material and manuals relating to weapons and explosives on his devices.
• He was found guilty in April of attempted possession of a firearm and 10 counts of collecting information likely to be useful to terrorists, and on Wednesday was given an extended five-year licence period after release.
Additional Information
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(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Mark Porter)
