Found guilty of weapons cache under terror charges
‘Obsessed’ with mass murder
A MAN is facing a ‘substan- tial’ jail sentence after he was found guilty under the Terrorism Act of possessing an arsenal of weapons.
Gabrielle Friel, 22, was convicted of preparing a terror attack with a lethal crossbow, 15 bolts for the weapon, a scope and a ballistic vest.
He was cleared of another charge alleging he wanted to carry out a ‘spree killing’. Friel had denied both charges. The High Court in Edinburgh had been told Friel was ‘addicted’ to reading about mass murders carried out by misogynist killers.
He also studied mass shootings carried out by men who described themselves as being ‘ incels’ – involuntary celibates.
The court was told many incels believe physically attractive women should be subjected to rapes and other violent attacks.
A psychiatrist who was treating Friel believed the accused was identifying with the incel movement – as did a social worker who worked with him.
A jury convicted Friel of a charge which stated that between June 1, 2019, and August 16, 2019, at various locations in Edinburgh, he possessed the weapons ‘for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism’.
This breached section 57 of the 2000 Terrorism Act.
Jurors found a second charge that he had breached the Terrorism Act by conducting online research in a bid to acquire a gun not proven.
That charge also stated that he had carried out an internet search f or mass murders that were committed by individuals ‘expressing motivation... or affiliation’ with incels.
It also included that he took possession of the weapons, assembled the crossbow and test fired it at a drinks can before storing it at his home in the city.
Lord Beckett remanded Friel, of Edinburgh, in custody ahead of sentencing and ordered a background report.
It is not the first time he had come to the attention of authorities.
In November 2017, he was detained following an incident at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus. When officers found Friel in toilets he pulled out an eight to ten inch kitchen knife from a bag and brandished it over his head.
During a struggle, one officer suffered a l aceration to his shoulder.
Following that incident Friel pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer to his injury and danger of life and was given a community payback order.
He was ordered to be kept under supervision for two years, to carry out 300 hours unpaid work and to engage with medical or psychiatric treatment as required following his appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
During his current trial, forensic psychiatrist called Dr Alexander Quinn, 44, told the court Friel had told him that he felt ‘an affiliation’ with the Californian killer Elliott Rodger, who had murdered six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in Isla Vista, California, in May 2014.
Before taking his own life following the attack, the 22-year- old posted a ‘retribution’ video to YouTube. In it, Rodger sat in a BMW that his family had given him and complained about being a virgin at 22, saying he had ‘never even kissed a girl’.
Police officers recovered a mobile phone belonging to Friel during the investigation.
He had used it to search the internet for ‘ guns for sale’ and media articles about Incels and the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the US.
Friel also made searches for ‘Toronto van attack’ – which refers to an attack in the Canadian city which was allegedly carried out by Alek Minassian.
However, Indonesian-born Friel denied ever planning a mass shooting.
He said he suffered from mental health problems and had acquired the crossbow and ballistic vest in the hope that if he appeared carrying them in the street, the police would shoot him.
Lord Beckett said it was likely that a ‘substantial prison sentence’ would be imposed.
The offence under which he was convicted carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Friel is scheduled to reappear in court for sentencing in January.
‘Studied mass shootings’