AN EDINBURGH man who expressed sympathy for a notorious US killer has been sentenced to 10 years, after he was found guilty under the Terrorism Act of possessing weapons including a crossbow, 15 crossbow arrows and a machete. Gabrielle Friel stored the weapons at various locations in Edinburgh last summer including his home, a social work centre and a hospital in circumstances. The 22-year-old appeared via video link at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday where Judge Lord Beckett imposed the sentence with a five years extension subject to licence. Friel was found guilty of possessing a crossbow, scope, crossbow arrows, a machete and a ballistic vest between June 1 and August 16 last year.
Man found guilty of weapons haul terrorism charge
PA
15 December 2020, 11:36 am
A man has been found guilty under the Terrorism Act of possessing weapons including a crossbow and machete.
Gabrielle Friel, 22, was found guilty of possessing the weapons at various locations in Edinburgh last summer including his home, a social work centre and a hospital in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable suspicion that possessing them was for a purpose connected with terrorism.
A second charge that he prepared for terrorist acts by researching spree killings, particularly those connected with incels – people who are involuntarily celibate – was found not proven, following a five-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Scot who fantasised about mass killings found guilty under Terrorism Act of possessing crossbow and machete
Gabrielle Friel had weapons at various locations in Edinburgh including his home, a social work centre and a hospital.
12:19, 15 DEC 2020
Updated
A police vehicle outside the main entrance to Edinburgh College s campus in Granton (Image: PA Wire)
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Friel denied both charges and gave evidence in his own defence during the trial. The court was told he amassed weapons last summer as he wanted to commit “suicide by cop” to help end his violent thoughts. Friel said mass shooting was a “fantasy” for him and he “felt for” incel mass murderer Elliot Rodger, but denied being an incel and described killers as “evil”. The 2014 Isla Vista killer Rodger – who murdered six people and injured 14 others – has been described as a trigger moment for the misogynistic subculture, which often involves ideas of violence towards women due to a lack of sexual activity.
BBC News
Published
image copyrightPolice Scotland
image captionGabrielle Friel was found guilty of possessing weapons for purposes connected to an act of terrorism
A man has been found guilty under the Terrorism Act of possessing weapons including a crossbow, 15 crossbow arrows and a machete.
However, Gabrielle Friel was cleared of another charge alleging he wanted to carry out a spree killing .
A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found the charge that he was motivated by incel (involuntary celibate) ideology was not proven.
The 22-year-old had denied both charges.
Friel was accused of having the weapons and a bulletproof vest at various locations including his home, a community justice social work centre and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital between 1 June and 16 August last year.