Man, 22, cleared of plotting to carry out ‘spree killing’ inspired by ‘incel’ movement
Internet obsessive, 22, is convicted of having crossbow, arrows, machete and ballistic vest but cleared of plotting to carry out ‘spree killing’ inspired by ‘involuntary celibate’ movement
- Gabrielle Friel, 22, was found guilty of having the crossbow and machete
- Also had crossbow arrows, scope and a ballistic vest at locations in Edinburgh
- The locations included his home, a social work centre and a hospital
An internet obsessive has been convicted of having weapons including a crossbow and machete but cleared of plotting to carry out ‘a spree killing’ inspired by the ‘involuntary celibate’ movement.
Gabrielle Friel, 22, was found guilty by majority of having a crossbow, scope, crossbow arrows, a machete and a ballistic vest at various locations in Edinburgh between June 1 and August 16 last year.
They included his home, a social work centre and a hospital, in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable suspicion that possessing these 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.
As part of this charge, Friel was accused of having ‘expressed affinity with and sympathy for one incel-motivated mass murderer’ and to have expressed ‘a desire to carry out a spree killing mass murder’.
Incel followers blame attractive men and women for their inability to find a sexual partner.
The subculture first turned violent when American Elliot Rodger murdered six of his fellow students before killing himself at the University of California in May 2014.
Gabrielle Friel, 22, has been convicted of having weapons including a crossbow and machete but cleared of plotting to carry out ‘a spree killing’ inspired by the ‘involuntary celibate’ movement
Judge Lord Beckett told Friel after he was found guilty: ‘You have been found guilty of charge one, which is a very serious charge.
‘Before dealing with you I can’t proceed without calling for a criminal justice social work report.’
He deferred sentencing until January 12 but told members of the jury it was likely to be ‘substantial prison sentence’ and thanked them for their efforts.
Friel denied both charges and gave evidence in his own defence during the trial.
Friel, 22, was found guilty by majority of having a crossbow, scope, crossbow arrows, a machete and a ballistic vest at various locations in Edinburgh between June 1 and August 16 last year
The items and weapons, including the knife pictured above, were found at his home, a social work centre and a hospital, in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable suspicion that possessing these was for a purpose connected with terrorism
As part of this charge, Friel was accused of having ‘expressed affinity with and sympathy for one incel-motivated mass murderer’ and to have expressed ‘a desire to carry out a spree killing mass murder’. Pctured: The crossbow bolts recovered by police
As well as the weapons, a telescopic sight was among the items recovered
The jury previously heard Friel appeared to ‘almost idolise’ Rodger.
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 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.
Friel denied both charges and gave evidence in his own defence during the trial at Edinburgh High Court
Friel claimed he also wanted to commit ‘suicide by cop’ when he stabbed a police officer at Edinburgh College’s Granton campus in November 2017.
He said fears he would fail a test had triggered negative thoughts of being bullied at high school in Singapore and previous attempts to take his own life, which led to further attempts before the college incident.
The court heard Friel was sentenced to 300 hours of community service after pleading guilty at a hearing in June 2018 to the stabbing, which endangered the officer’s life.
The court heard Friel had ‘expressed affinity with and sympathy for one incel-motivated mass murderer’ and the jury previously heard he appeared to ‘almost idolise’ US killer Elliot Rodger (pictured)
