Alfie Coleman, a 22-year-old neo-Nazi from Great Notley, Essex, has been sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison, with an additional five years on extended licence, for plotting a mass gun attack. He was convicted of preparing for terrorist acts following a retrial at the Old Bailey.
MI5 sting foils attack plan
Coleman was caught when undercover MI5 officers engaged him in encrypted chat as he sought to buy weapons, including a Skorpion submachine gun and an AK47. The operation culminated in a Morrisons car park in Stratford, east London, on September 29, 2023, where Coleman, then 19, arranged to purchase a Makarov pistol, five magazines, and 200 rounds of ammunition for £3,500. He was arrested by armed counter-terrorism police moments after picking up the handgun.
Kill list and manifesto
Prosecutor Nicholas De La Poer KC told the court that Coleman created a 'kill list' of Tesco colleagues and customers he considered 'race traitors' in September 2022. Among them was a white female co-worker married to a man of mixed Indian and Seychellois heritage. He also wrote a manifesto with potential targets, including the Lord Mayor of London and a mosque. Judge Richard Marks KC described Coleman's views as 'virulently racist' and deemed him a 'dangerous offender'.
Evidence of extremist ideology
A search of Coleman's home revealed a swastika rock, a Black Sun flag, extreme right-wing books, knives, an air rifle, and a bug-detecting device. His electronic devices showed he had emailed the far-right group Patriotic Alternative in July 2021, expressing a desire to participate in activism. He also idolized Thomas Mair, the extremist who murdered MP Jo Cox.
Sentencing and reaction
During sentencing, Coleman appeared tearful as the judge rejected his claims that his statements were mere 'hyperbole, bravado, fantasy' and not genuine intentions. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the plot, which included plans to hijack a plane and use explosives, knives, and crossbows. Coleman had admitted attempting to possess a firearm and ammunition but denied preparing for a terrorist attack. He also pleaded guilty to possessing 10 documents with information useful to terrorists.
