A Welsh teenager who became obsessed with the Southport mass stabbing and plotted a similar terrorist-style attack, including targeting an Oasis concert, has been sentenced to detention.
Copycat Attack Plans Uncovered
McKenzie Morgan, a teenager from Cwmbran in South Wales, has been given a 14-month detention order after admitting to possessing information likely to be useful to a terrorist. The Old Bailey heard that Morgan, who praised the perpetrator of the 2024 Southport attack in Snapchat messages, expressed a desire to commit a similar atrocity.
He admitted to possessing the notorious 'Al Qaeda Training Manual', the same document used by Axel Rudakubana, who carried out the fatal stabbings in Southport. Morgan's disturbing intentions went beyond mere fascination, as he actively researched how to make the deadly poison ricin.
Concert and Local Targets in Sights
Morgan's research into potential targets was specific and chilling. He focused on the Oasis concert scheduled for Cardiff on 4 July 2025, considering it as a potential site for an attack. Beyond the major public event, he also looked at local, softer targets including dance schools and playgrounds near his home.
The court was told that his plans were ultimately thwarted after a concerned friend reported him to the police. Morgan had also disclosed his intentions to a psychiatric nurse, though upon his arrest he claimed he was merely bored and only wanted to shock people.
Sentencing and Public Safety
The 14-month sentence reflects the seriousness with which the authorities treat the possession of terrorist materials and the articulation of attack plans, even by young individuals. The case highlights the ongoing challenge of individuals, particularly youths, being radicalised online by past terrorist events.
Judge Mark Dennis KC, sentencing, emphasised that while Morgan may have claimed his actions were born out of boredom, the possession of the manual and the detailed research into targets and methods represented a genuine and serious risk to public safety.
The swift action by Morgan's friend and the subsequent police intervention potentially prevented a tragic incident, underscoring the importance of community vigilance in counter-terrorism efforts.
