Alfie Coleman, a 22-year-old former Tesco employee and neo-Nazi, has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for planning a mass gun attack on a Tesco store. He was found guilty of preparing for terrorist acts after an Old Bailey retrial, with an additional five years on extended licence. Coleman appeared tearful as the sentence was handed down.
Hate List and Manifesto
Coleman compiled a hate list of colleagues and customers he branded with racial slurs or as 'race traitors' while working at Tesco. Prosecutor Nicholas De La Poer KC stated that Coleman was 'seething with hatred' in September 2022 when he created the list of people who had 'upset' him. Among those targeted was a white female co-worker married to a man of mixed Indian and Seychellois heritage. Coleman also penned a 'manifesto' in a diary identifying potential targets, including the Lord Mayor of London and a mosque.
Extreme Right-Wing Radicalisation
The court heard that Coleman began accessing extreme right-wing material at age 14, including a neo-Nazi text he downloaded on his iPad. He was 'captivated' by a book commemorating public hangings of 'white race traitors'. His radicalisation continued, leading to his plan to attack the Tesco store where he worked.
Undercover Sting and Arrest
Coleman was snared by MI5 in an undercover sting. Undercover officers arrested him, and images released by the Metropolitan Police show Coleman posing in a skull mask days before his arrest. Judge Richard Marks KC described Coleman as a 'dangerous offender' with 'virulently racist' views. The judge noted that Coleman claimed his statements were 'intrusive thoughts' and not reflective of his real beliefs, but the court rejected this defense.
