Essex neo-Nazi jailed for terror offence after MI5 sting

A 22-year-old neo-Nazi, Alfie Coleman, has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison following a carefully orchestrated MI5 operation that intercepted his plans to carry out a gun attack. The incident unfolded in September 2023 when undercover agents arranged a meeting with Coleman in a car park located in east London. There, he was apprehended after receiving a Makarov handgun along with 200 rounds of ammunition.

Coleman, who worked in a supermarket and lived in Great Notley, Essex, had been radicalised through far-right extremist content found online since he was 14 years old. During his trial at the Old Bailey in April, he was convicted of preparing terrorist acts. Evidence revealed that he had fantasies about instigating a race war. Judge Richard Marks KC described Coleman’s ideology as “virulently racist,” labeling him a “dangerous offender.” The judge noted mitigating factors including Coleman’s youth, immaturity, and mental health challenges such as traits of autistic spectrum disorder and anxiety, which influenced the decision not to impose a discretionary life sentence.

The plot was uncovered through a sting operation where MI5 operatives used encrypted messaging app Telegram to engage with Coleman as he sought to purchase a firearm. Dramatic footage from the trial showed Coleman handing over £3,500 in a Land Rover in exchange for the weapon and ammunition in a Morrisons car park in Stratford, before he was immediately confronted by armed counter-terrorism officers and detained. Investigations of Coleman’s belongings uncovered a manifesto outlining potential targets, including the Lord Mayor of London and a mosque. Prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer KC highlighted Coleman’s growing impatience with online discussions, citing a message he wrote just two days before his planned arms collection: “Something has gotta be done, how long can we sit here and talk over the internet?”

Further searches at his family home revealed disturbing items that underlined his extremist beliefs. Among these were a swastika-emblazoned rock, a black sun flag associated with neo-Nazism, and several knives. Authorities also discovered a device for detecting surveillance equipment and secret cameras. Coleman’s writings venerated known mass murderers such as Thomas Mair, who killed MP Jo Cox in 2016, and Dylann Roof, a US church shooter, whom Coleman described as “warriors.” In court, Coleman spoke about his loneliness and mental health struggles during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Probation reports described him as posing a high risk of serious harm to the public, with deeply entrenched beliefs unlikely to shift.

In his defense, Martin Rutherford KC acknowledged Coleman’s intelligence and articulation but explained that his obsessive personality had taken a dangerous turn in 2020. The judge was told Coleman had admitted to possession of the firearm and ammunition but denied preparing for a terrorist act. Coleman also pleaded guilty to holding ten documents that could assist terrorists, including materials on weapons and bomb-making. He is expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence minus the more than 1,000 days already spent in custody, followed by an extended licence period of five years after release.

Reacting to the case, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, warned parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activity vigilantly. She stressed the importance of early intervention and recommended utilizing resources like the ACT Early website to prevent youth from descending into violent extremism. “It is extremely concerning that such a young person was planning to murder innocent members of the public as part of an extreme right wing terrorist plot,” Flanagan said. She emphasized the rising trend of young people being drawn into terrorism through digital channels and urged open conversations to redirect vulnerable individuals before it is too late

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More