This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyj2g5l1g2o
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Teenager jailed for plotting mass shooting at Edinburgh school | Teenager jailed for plotting mass shooting at Edinburgh school |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The court heard that Winter, now aged 18, idolised the killers behind the 1999 Columbine school shooting | The court heard that Winter, now aged 18, idolised the killers behind the 1999 Columbine school shooting |
| A murder-obsessed teenager who spoke of carrying out a mass shooting at an Edinburgh school has been jailed for six years. | A murder-obsessed teenager who spoke of carrying out a mass shooting at an Edinburgh school has been jailed for six years. |
| A court heard Felix Winter, who is now 18, "idolised" the killers behind the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the US. | A court heard Felix Winter, who is now 18, "idolised" the killers behind the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the US. |
| The pupil repeatedly spoke about mounting a similar "Doomsday" attack to the one which claimed the lives of 12 students and a teacher in Colorado. | The pupil repeatedly spoke about mounting a similar "Doomsday" attack to the one which claimed the lives of 12 students and a teacher in Colorado. |
| Winter, who also held racist and pro-Nazi views, admitted two charges at a hearing in February. | Winter, who also held racist and pro-Nazi views, admitted two charges at a hearing in February. |
| The High Court in Glasgow heard the offences - a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act - were committed when he was aged 15 and 16 between June 2022 and July 2023. | The High Court in Glasgow heard the offences - a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act - were committed when he was aged 15 and 16 between June 2022 and July 2023. |
| Shelagh McCall KC, defending, called for a strict alternative to custody as her client was a "vulnerable young person" with mental health issues. | Shelagh McCall KC, defending, called for a strict alternative to custody as her client was a "vulnerable young person" with mental health issues. |
| But the court was told Winter had been "radicalised", having spent more than 1,000 hours in contact with a pro-Nazi online Discord group. | But the court was told Winter had been "radicalised", having spent more than 1,000 hours in contact with a pro-Nazi online Discord group. |
| The judge said it appeared Winter had been in contact with the extremist online group for two hours a day for two years. | The judge said it appeared Winter had been in contact with the extremist online group for two hours a day for two years. |
| Lord Arthurson told the court the teenager had also discussed with fellow pupils his "visceral, violent and graphically detailed plan" to carry out a massacre. | Lord Arthurson told the court the teenager had also discussed with fellow pupils his "visceral, violent and graphically detailed plan" to carry out a massacre. |
| In a January 2023 journal entry he described his school as a "virus upon this earth" and added he would soon prove that "I am a God". | In a January 2023 journal entry he described his school as a "virus upon this earth" and added he would soon prove that "I am a God". |
| Lord Arthurson added: "The whole material available to me indicate that you were progressing towards the brink of perpetrating a mass school shooting, you were radicalised and your statement of intent could not have been clearer." | |
| Students were given an armed escort from Columbine High School in Colorado after two teenagers went on a shooting spree in 1999 | Students were given an armed escort from Columbine High School in Colorado after two teenagers went on a shooting spree in 1999 |
| Winter had been referred to the UK-wide Prevent counter terrorism programme four times. | Winter had been referred to the UK-wide Prevent counter terrorism programme four times. |
| It places public bodies, including schools and the police, under a legal duty to identify people who may turn to extremism, and intervene in their lives before it is too late. | It places public bodies, including schools and the police, under a legal duty to identify people who may turn to extremism, and intervene in their lives before it is too late. |
| Police Scotland launched an investigation in the summer of 2023 after a social media photo of Winter at school wearing combat gear and carrying an imitation gun caused panic among pupils and parents. | Police Scotland launched an investigation in the summer of 2023 after a social media photo of Winter at school wearing combat gear and carrying an imitation gun caused panic among pupils and parents. |
| It emerged the clothes and prop gun were issued to him for a video being made in a drama class in which he had been cast as a kidnapper. | It emerged the clothes and prop gun were issued to him for a video being made in a drama class in which he had been cast as a kidnapper. |
| But detectives established Winter, of Kirknewton, West Lothian, frequently spoke to other pupils about carrying out a school attack. | But detectives established Winter, of Kirknewton, West Lothian, frequently spoke to other pupils about carrying out a school attack. |
| He also "exhibited a variety of alarming behaviours" over a 13-month period. | He also "exhibited a variety of alarming behaviours" over a 13-month period. |
| Winter spoke 'excitedly' about Columbine | Winter spoke 'excitedly' about Columbine |
| Classmates recalled how the teenager spoke "excitedly and with considerable enthusiasm" when he talked about Columbine and other school shootings. | Classmates recalled how the teenager spoke "excitedly and with considerable enthusiasm" when he talked about Columbine and other school shootings. |
| Witnesses told police he "sympathised" with the Columbine killers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. | Witnesses told police he "sympathised" with the Columbine killers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. |
| Harris, 18, and Klebold, 17, both took their own lives in the library of the school after the attack. | Harris, 18, and Klebold, 17, both took their own lives in the library of the school after the attack. |
| Winter was also said to be so fascinated by the mass shooting that he wanted to change his name in an "act of homage" to Klebold. | Winter was also said to be so fascinated by the mass shooting that he wanted to change his name in an "act of homage" to Klebold. |
| A female pupil told officers he planned to start on the second floor and "clear it out" before continuing the shooting spree downstairs. | A female pupil told officers he planned to start on the second floor and "clear it out" before continuing the shooting spree downstairs. |
| Winter was stopped by police under the Terrorism Act as he returned from holiday with his family on 9 July 2023. | Winter was stopped by police under the Terrorism Act as he returned from holiday with his family on 9 July 2023. |
| Officers discovered that the schoolboy had a TikTok account which had footage of him wearing black combat clothes as well as a skeleton mask. | Officers discovered that the schoolboy had a TikTok account which had footage of him wearing black combat clothes as well as a skeleton mask. |
| When his electronic devices were seized, they were found to contain files on "homemade" firearms and poisons. | When his electronic devices were seized, they were found to contain files on "homemade" firearms and poisons. |
| The court heard he had 65 videos of Columbine and had added music which appeared to "glamorise" the mass killing. | The court heard he had 65 videos of Columbine and had added music which appeared to "glamorise" the mass killing. |
| Accused hoped to make gun with 3D printer | Accused hoped to make gun with 3D printer |
| Other pupils told how he had spoken of wanting to carry out attacks on students and teachers using guns, explosives or poison. | Other pupils told how he had spoken of wanting to carry out attacks on students and teachers using guns, explosives or poison. |
| He also claimed he would buy a 3D printer to help construct a firearm. | He also claimed he would buy a 3D printer to help construct a firearm. |
| At a previous hearing, Winter's lawyer said that the teenager was vulnerable and a transgender person and that would need to be taken into account. | |
| After the sentencing Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: "This was an extremely complex and fast-moving investigation, and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the diligence and hard work of the officers who worked tirelessly to gather the evidence and bring the perpetrator to justice." | After the sentencing Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: "This was an extremely complex and fast-moving investigation, and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the diligence and hard work of the officers who worked tirelessly to gather the evidence and bring the perpetrator to justice." |
| The senior officer added the case underlined the advantages of working in partnership as part of the Prevent programme. | The senior officer added the case underlined the advantages of working in partnership as part of the Prevent programme. |
| He said it "promotes early intervention through tailored, diversionary support". | He said it "promotes early intervention through tailored, diversionary support". |
| James Dalgleish, City of Edinburgh Council's education convener, said: "While we are unable to comment on individual cases, we want to reassure the public that we have robust safeguarding procedures in place. | James Dalgleish, City of Edinburgh Council's education convener, said: "While we are unable to comment on individual cases, we want to reassure the public that we have robust safeguarding procedures in place. |
| "We work closely with partner agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all pupils and staff, and take any matters involving violence extremely seriously." | "We work closely with partner agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all pupils and staff, and take any matters involving violence extremely seriously." |