(Credit: Scotland Police)
Home Correspondent
A self-proclaimed White nationalist who idolised the Christchurch mosque terrorist is facing a lengthy prison sentence for plotting a terror attack on an Islamic centre in Scotland
Sam Imrie, 24, was arrested after detectives discovered in July 2019 that he had been posted messages on social media that he was planning to attack Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard police who searched his home in Glenrothes also made a series of discoveries which included an arsenal of weapons.
Police also recovered a manifesto entitled the “Great Replacement” by far right terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in his March 2019 attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as copies of the video of Tarrant carrying out the shootings.
They also recovered a manifesto by Anders Breivik, another fascist who slaughtered 77 people in attacks in Norway in 2011.
Detectives also discovered computer equipment containing thousands of images glorifying far right terrorism attacks. Some of the images referred Tarrant and Breivik as ‘saints’.
Also found were copies Adolf Hitler’s work Mein Kampf, indecent images of child pornography and extreme porn which showed dead mutilated women being subjected to sexual acts.
Imrie was caught after officers in the Metropolitan Police tipped off Police Scotland counterparts. English officers had been scrutinising a group called ‘FashWave Artists’ on the Telegram app.
The group hosted images glorifying fascism but Imrie posted a series of messages in which he said he was planning to “burn down” a mosque.
He also said he had written to Breivik.
Detectives found CCTV footage of Imrie trying the door at the mosque before driving away. The jury heard how armed police officers swooped on Imrie’s home at 2am and arrested him.
On October 27, Imrie was convicted on two charges of breaching the terrorism act, wilful fire raising, possessing child and ‘extreme’ pornography and drink driving.
Lord Mulholland warned Imrie: “Be under no illusion – you have been convicted of very serious offences including gathering information about terrorism and encouraging terrorism, child pornography and extreme pornography.
“You will not be surprised to know that you will be receiving a sentence of some length.”
During proceedings, jurors heard Imrie tell police officers that he was a white nationalist. He also said he believed that non white people were “inferior” to whites.
Lord Mulholland also told Imrie that because he had been convicted of terrorism offences, he’d have to notify the police upon his release of personal information.
Imrie was told he would have to notify officers of his name, address and any locations where he might be staying.
Lord Mulholland also placed Imrie on the Sex Offenders Register because of the pornography convictions. Imrie is expected to be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on November 24.
