A 17-year-old who planned a terrorist attack on a mosque, citing Hitler, Mussolini, and Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik as his inspirations, has been sentenced to 10 years in custody. Due to his age, the teenager cannot be named.
He intended to set fire to an Islamic centre in Greenock, Inverclyde, after gaining the imam’s trust and secretly mapping the building’s interior on his phone. He was arrested at the entrance of the centre in January this year, carrying a military-style backpack that contained a German-made Glock-type air pistol, ammunition, ball bearings, gas cartridges, and aerosol cans.
After pleading guilty to two terrorism charges, he was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday. He will also be subject to an additional eight years of supervision upon his release.
In his sentencing remarks, Lord Arthurson stated: “What you had planned can only be described as a diabolical atrocity involving extreme violence and multiple deaths. You even requested that your attack be livestreamed. Your actions were only halted by your arrest, as you stood at the very door of the centre.”
Prosecutors revealed that the teenager, who was radicalised online, began plotting the attack in December 2024. He joined the mosque’s WhatsApp group under the guise of seeking guidance and gradually won over the imam during several visits. Meanwhile, on Telegram, he boasted about his plan to burn down the centre and later filmed himself inside the building, superimposing an image of a hand holding a semi-automatic pistol.
Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework, said: “This heinous plan to attack members of his own local community was driven by racial and religious hatred. It demonstrated not only his neo-Nazi beliefs but also his readiness to act on them, intending to inflict pain and suffering.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the sentencing of a teenager for planning a mosque attack in Scotland designed to be clear and helpful
General Information
Q What happened
A A 16yearold boy from Scotland was sentenced to 10 years in prison for planning a terrorist attack on a mosque
Q Who was the teenager
A For legal reasons because he is a minor his identity has not been publicly released He is only referred to as Boy B in court
Q Where was this
A The case was heard at the High Court in Glasgow Scotland The planned attack was targeting a mosque in the Scottish city of Edinburgh
Q When did this happen
A He was sentenced on May 24 2024
About the Crime and Sentencing
Q What exactly was he planning to do
A He planned to use homemade explosives and knives to carry out an attack on worshippers at a mosque He had researched and gathered materials for his plan
Q How was he caught
A He was reported to the antiterrorism hotline Counter Terrorism Policing by a member of the public who was concerned about his online activity Police then investigated and found evidence on his devices
Q Why did he get 10 years Is that a normal sentence
A The judge considered the severity of the planned attack his extreme rightwing ideology and the fact that he was very close to carrying it out The sentence includes both a custodial period and a period of supervision upon release
Q Was he charged as an adult or a juvenile
A Even though he is 16 due to the extremely serious nature of the crime he was tried and sentenced in the High Court which handles the most severe cases
Deeper Questions and Context
Q What motivated him
A The court heard that he was motivated by a extreme rightwing antiIslamic ideology He had been consuming and sharing hateful content online
Q What is extreme rightwing terrorism
A It is a form of terrorism driven by ideologies that often include white supremacy racial hatred antiimmigration beliefs and opposition to multicultural society
Q Are there concerns about radicalization of young people online
A Yes this
