A teenager who plotted a copycat terrorist attack inspired by the Southport stabbings, targeting an Oasis reunion concert and a local dance school, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Snapchat Messages Reveal Terrorist Ambitions
McKenzie Morgan, now 18 and from Cwmbran in South Wales, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday after pleading guilty to possessing a document useful for terrorism. The court heard that between April and June last year, Morgan used Snapchat to praise Axel Rudakubana, the 18-year-old serving life for murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport in July 2024.
Prosecutor Corinne Bramwell detailed how Morgan shared images of Rudakubana and expressed his desire to carry out a similar attack. He told contacts he was trying to manufacture the deadly poison ricin and asked for advice on "how to burn people's faces". In one message, he stated he had "the motivation to go ahead with some sort of attack".
Targets Included Cardiff Concert and Dance Academy
Morgan's specific plans involved two potential targets. He created a note on his phone listing "places to attack", which included a screenshot of a local youth dance academy mapped near his home. Furthermore, he revealed a plan to bomb the Oasis reunion concert scheduled for 4 July 2025 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Evidence showed he had searched online for two local playgrounds and the dance academy in late April. He also sent a picture of a 15cm kitchen knife from Amazon to another Snapchat user with the question "Would this work?" and later attempted to purchase it.
Intervention and Arrest
The plot began to unravel when one of his Snapchat contacts reported him to the police. Concerns were also raised by his mother, leading to a referral to children's mental health services. On 2 June, Morgan told a psychiatric nurse he wanted to hurt others and was planning a Rudakubana-style attack, admitting he enjoyed watching terrorist content and had researched bombs, poison, and methods of stabbing.
The nurse immediately disclosed the conversation to police, who arrested Morgan at his Cwmbran home later that same day. A search of his electronic devices uncovered a terrorist manual. In police interviews, Morgan claimed his messages were sent out of "boredom" and were intended "to shock", denying any real intent to carry out the attacks.
Sentencing and Risk Assessment
Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC sentenced Morgan to 14 months in a young offender institution. Previously unnamed due to his age, he was identified upon turning 18. Ms Bramwell told the court Morgan posed a high risk to others as well as to himself.
In mitigation, defence barrister Michael Stradling said Morgan had no history of violence and presented a greater risk of self-harm. He conveyed his client's "heartfelt" apologies for his actions. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of identifying and intervening in extremist ideologies among vulnerable young people.
