This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44898341
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Custody for 'Columbine' plot schoolboys | Custody for 'Columbine' plot schoolboys |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two teenage boys who plotted a Columbine-style shooting at a school have been detained. | Two teenage boys who plotted a Columbine-style shooting at a school have been detained. |
| Thomas Wyllie and Alex Bolland, both 15, planned to shoot and kill pupils and teachers at the school in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. | Thomas Wyllie and Alex Bolland, both 15, planned to shoot and kill pupils and teachers at the school in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. |
| Wyllie was handed a 12-year custodial sentence while his co-defendant was given 10 years. | Wyllie was handed a 12-year custodial sentence while his co-defendant was given 10 years. |
| The teenagers, who were 14 at the time, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder at Leeds Crown Court in May. | The teenagers, who were 14 at the time, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder at Leeds Crown Court in May. |
| Yorkshire breaking news: Iron Age settlement found under roundabout, part of canal closed to save water | Yorkshire breaking news: Iron Age settlement found under roundabout, part of canal closed to save water |
| Jurors heard they were motivated by their "worship" of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 13 people and themselves at Colorado's Columbine High School in 1999. | Jurors heard they were motivated by their "worship" of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 13 people and themselves at Colorado's Columbine High School in 1999. |
| Following their arrests in October 2017, both boys tried to claim the Yorkshire plot was nothing more than a fantasy. | Following their arrests in October 2017, both boys tried to claim the Yorkshire plot was nothing more than a fantasy. |
| But sentencing the pair, Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said it was a "firm plan with specific targets in mind" using "indiscriminate explosives". | |
| She described the pair's friendship as "a noxious relationship", adding "those two saw themselves as anti-heroes, with the power to choose who lives and who died." | |
| The judge concluded Wyllie and Bolland intended to cause "terror on the scale of the school shootings that have been seen in America". | The judge concluded Wyllie and Bolland intended to cause "terror on the scale of the school shootings that have been seen in America". |
| Prosecutors said Wyllie, who was described as the ring-leader, was motivated by a "far right-wing" and "twisted ideology" which he had discussed in a diary - along with a desire to carry out a school attack. | Prosecutors said Wyllie, who was described as the ring-leader, was motivated by a "far right-wing" and "twisted ideology" which he had discussed in a diary - along with a desire to carry out a school attack. |
| Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb described his journal entries as "desperately sad words" for a boy with a family. | |
| The pair downloaded bomb-making manuals, researched weapons online and had drawn up a "hit-list" of targets that included students who had bullied and wronged them, as well as teachers. | The pair downloaded bomb-making manuals, researched weapons online and had drawn up a "hit-list" of targets that included students who had bullied and wronged them, as well as teachers. |
| Wyllie also had a rucksack filled with screws, boards and flammable liquid that he kept in a secret hideout in Catterick Garrison. Prosecutors suggested they were instruments for making an explosive device which was to be used in the plot. | Wyllie also had a rucksack filled with screws, boards and flammable liquid that he kept in a secret hideout in Catterick Garrison. Prosecutors suggested they were instruments for making an explosive device which was to be used in the plot. |
| The jury heard Wyllie told a female friend he wanted to become a "natural born killer". | The jury heard Wyllie told a female friend he wanted to become a "natural born killer". |
| In court, the girl's mother described him as "primitive, devious and controlling". | In court, the girl's mother described him as "primitive, devious and controlling". |
| The boys were interviewed by police after Bolland, who was bullied at school, messaged a friend in September 2017 to tell her about the plan. | The boys were interviewed by police after Bolland, who was bullied at school, messaged a friend in September 2017 to tell her about the plan. |
| 'Desire for revenge' | |
| In the message, he claimed he and Wyllie were doing a "service to society" and would eliminate students who were "infecting the gene pool". | In the message, he claimed he and Wyllie were doing a "service to society" and would eliminate students who were "infecting the gene pool". |
| The next day, Bolland made "clear and unvarnished confessions" to a teacher and to police officers. | The next day, Bolland made "clear and unvarnished confessions" to a teacher and to police officers. |
| In a series of message exchanges, Wyllie told Bolland: "If you're gonna kill yourself, shoot up the school." | In a series of message exchanges, Wyllie told Bolland: "If you're gonna kill yourself, shoot up the school." |
| Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC told the court the bullying suffered by Bolland was a motivation for the attack and said the pair "were driven by a desire for revenge". |