Man accused of terrorism ‘was fixated’ on US spree killer’
A man accused of terrorism offences felt that girls were not interested in him and was "very fixated" on an American spree killer.
Prosecutors allege that Gabrielle Friel, 22, wa sin possession of across bow ,15 crossbow bolts, a machete and a ballistic vest in Edinburgh last year.
A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Friel, of Comely Bank Road, allegedly conducted online searches for ‘spree killing mass murders committed by individuals expressing motivation or affiliation with Incels.’ The jury heard how this was an expression for‘ in voluntary celibates.’
A social worker who met Friel in August last year wrote in an email that Friel was "almost idolising" Elliot Rodger, who killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in May 2014.
Sarah Drummond wrote in the message: "Most of our meeting was Gabrielle talking about his anger and resentment from the past. He speaks about feeling humiliated as a child. Something he has shared over the time we have known him."
She said he continued to feel he has been unfairly treated in life and had been ruminating a lot. She added that he was "very fixated (almost idolising) Elliot Roger, a California spree killer at a university" stating that "he feels just like him".
Miss Drummond, who had previously had a series of meetings with Friel, said in the email, which was sent to a psychiatrist and supervisor: "He feels jealous of others and feels that no girls are interested in him. He wants to project his anger to the world."
She told the court that Friel mentioned he felt quite jealous of males that were able to have relationships with females and would quite like to have some female attention.
She said Friel expressed he could identify with Rodger but was not praising what he had done.
Miss Drummond told advocate depute Richard Goddard QC that she thought that Friel had said he had read his manifesto.
She told police officers that it sounded like he was getting excited talking about him and it was "as if he idolised him".
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Alex and erQuinnt old the court Friel showed him he had bought body armour .”