A 22-year-old neo-Nazi named Alfie Coleman has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for plotting a large-scale gun attack, following his capture by MI5 in an undercover operation.
Coleman, residing in Great Notley, Essex, was convicted of preparing for terrorist activities after a retrial at the Old Bailey. The court learned that Coleman began engaging with extreme right-wing content online at the age of 14, including downloading neo-Nazi material on his iPad.
Formerly employed part-time at Tesco, Coleman created a list of individuals at his workplace whom he labeled with racial slurs or as “race traitors.” He meticulously planned potential targets, such as the Lord Mayor of London and a local mosque, in a diary he referred to as his “manifesto.”
MI5 intervened when Coleman attempted to purchase weapons through encrypted channels. His escalating involvement in online extreme right-wing groups raised concerns in the summer of 2023. In September 2023, Coleman arranged to buy firearms in France, targeting a mosque but later abandoning the plan.
A covert operation by MI5 culminated in Coleman’s arrest in a Morrisons car park in Stratford, London. Video footage presented in court showed Coleman exchanging money for a handgun and ammunition before being apprehended by armed counter-terrorism police.
During a search of Coleman’s residence, law enforcement uncovered evidence of his extremist views, including admiration for Thomas Mair, the individual who murdered MP Jo Cox. Various weapons, extremist literature, and Nazi memorabilia were confiscated from his living space.
An examination of Coleman’s electronic devices revealed his communication with a far-right white supremacist group and detailed plans for terrorist activities, including hijacking a plane and attacking the Lord Mayor’s residence.
In his defense, Coleman cited loneliness and mental health struggles during the Covid-19 lockdowns. He admitted to attempting to acquire firearms and ammunition but denied preparing for a terrorist assault. Coleman also pleaded guilty to possessing documents containing information useful for terrorist activities.
Counter-terrorism policing head Cdr Helen Flanagan expressed concerns over Coleman’s radicalization, emphasizing the influence of online exposure to extreme right-wing ideologies. She highlighted the need for vigilance in monitoring online activities to prevent such radicalization.