Scotland: Teen jailed for 10 years over plot to set Muslims on fire in mosque attack

A 17-year-old boy who plotted a terrorist attack on a mosque in Scotland has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. According to reports, he was radicalised through extremist content on social media and drew inspiration from figures such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

During the hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Lord Arthurson described his preparations as a “quite diabolical atrocity.”

The court also ruled that he will remain under supervision for eight years following his release. His identity has not been disclosed due to his age. He was only 16 when arrested.

Court proceedings revealed that the teenager had been exposed to extremist material since the age of 13.

Investigators found on his phone a list of names including Hitler, Mussolini, and Anders Breivik, the far-right extremist who carried out the 2011 Norway attacks.

On social media, he expressed views of a “war” involving white people and claimed he was ready to sacrifice his life “for his land.”

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The inquiry further revealed that his plans included setting worshippers on fire inside a mosque and bombing schools.

Police arrested him outside the Inverclyde Muslim Centre in January, where they recovered a German-made air pistol, bullets, cartridges, and aerosol cans from his possession.

Prior to the arrest, he had approached the mosque’s Imam, pretending to convert to Islam in order to gain the trust of worshippers and access to the mosque.

The mosque’s leadership later stated they forgave him, expressing sympathy for his family despite the gravity of the planned attack.