A white supremacist who amassed a large collection of weapons and plotted a terror attack on a Scottish LGBT group has been convicted of multiple terror offences. Alan Edward, 54, who was found guilty of four charges under the Terrorism Act, faces a lengthy prison sentence after a trial at the High Court in Stirling.
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Plot to Attack LGBT Group
Edward, who is from Falkirk, was discovered to have been planning a violent attack on an LGBT group that held meetings in the town. In messages to an associate, Edward threatened that the group would “pay in blood.” His extremist views were found to glorify notorious figures like Adolf Hitler and far-right Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik.
During a raid by armed police in September 2022, authorities uncovered an alarming collection of weaponry in Edward’s home. The weapons seized included a crossbow with telescopic sights, 14 knives featuring Nazi insignia, a samurai sword, a stun gun, and a range of other dangerous items like machetes and an air pistol.
Prosecutors described the collection as an “armoury,” demonstrating Edward’s intent to commit a terrorist act.
Guilty of Terrorism, Racism, and Anti-Semitism
After an 11-day trial, a jury found Edward guilty not only of terrorism offences but also of promoting racism, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, and a statutory breach of the peace. The court was presented with numerous communications from Edward containing hate-filled messages, including anti-Semitic remarks, calls for violence against Communists, and derogatory references to the LGBTQ+ community.
One of Edward’s social media posts read: “We used to sterilise mental defectives. We now just convince them they’re trans so they ASK to be sterilised.”
A Growing Online Presence
Edward, who claimed to be a former journalist, had nearly 28,000 followers on social media. His online activity, which included posting a video glorifying the banned far-right group National Action, caught the attention of counter-terrorism investigators.
Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC described Edward as a man with “clear neo-Nazi ideals” who was preparing for a terrorist act driven by ideological hatred. The court heard that Edward’s extremist beliefs were rooted in white supremacy, racial purity, and a deep hatred of homosexuals and transgender people.
No Remorse, No Emotion
Throughout the trial, Edward denied the charges, claiming that his collection of weapons was for outdoor pursuits and that he was merely a collector. However, the jury was unconvinced, and Edward showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out in court.
Judge Fiona Tait deferred sentencing until October 21 at the High Court in Edinburgh, continuing Edward’s remand in custody. She also requested an assessment for a Serious Crime Prevention Order, which is used to manage convicted criminals upon release, including monitoring their business dealings and communications.
