This work has been submitted to NECTAR, the Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research. Book Title: Lone Wolves: Myth or Reality? Creators: Gable, G. and Jackson, P.Searchlight Magazine Example citation: Gable, G. and Jackson, P. (2011) Lone WolveRs: Myth or Reality? Ilford: Searchlight Magazine. A Version: Published version Official URL: http://www.lonewolfproject.org.uTk/ http://nectarC.northampton.ac.uk/6014/ NE Lone wolves: myth or reality? A Searchlight report Lone wolves: myth or reality? Searchlight has investigated nazi and fascist organisations and key individuals since its formation in 1964. Searchlight analyses and uses the results of that intelligence to prevent fascist organisations from growing and harming democracy. Searchlight's investigative work has contributed to the arrest and conviction of fascist criminals, including terrorists, the prevention of specific crimes, and disruption of activities of fascist organisations that risk causing harm to communities. Many members of fascist organisations are heavily involved in crime and so by limiting the growth of these groups and diverting potential recruits, Searchlight also contributes to crime prevention. Since 1975 Searchlight has published a monthly magazine and occasional other publications. Searchlight has given evidence to Parliamentary enquiries and worked on two European Community reports on racism and xenophobia. Searchlight also supplies information to the media and has been involved in the production of several major television documentary programmes exposing the activities and operations of fascists and their organisations. In 2002 the British National Party started winning local council elections. Because of this, Searchlight has devoted increasing resources to developing effective campaigning strategies under the banner of HOPE not hate, which works closely with those sections of society most under threat from the BNP. HOPE not hate continues to be intelligence-led. An electronic version of this publication can be downloaded from www.lonewolfproject.org.uk You can email us at [email protected] or write to Searchlight PO Box 1576 Ilford IG5 0HE © Gerry Gable 2 | Lone wolves: myth or reality? Foreword Foreword by John Denham Gerry Gable’s report on so-called “lone wolves” was commissioned when I was Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. For the first time, government had become actively engaged in undercutting the roots of far-right extremism and raising the issue through the “Connecting Communities” programme. Connecting Communities complemented the “Prevent” programme aimed at Islamist based violent extremism and we shared a concern with the routes which drew individuals into violent radicalism. Gerry Gable’s report lays bare the myth that most far-right racist terrorism is the action of isolated individuals, unconnected with other organised far-right groups and ideologies. In fact, those involved in apparent one-person actions have in all cases had clear and often long-standing involvement with organised groups. The report should prompt further debate about how the roots of such violence are best tackled. The Rt Hon John Denham MP Lone wolves: myth or reality? | 3 Lone wolves: myth or reality? About the authors Gerry Gable Gerry Gable, MA (Crim), is the adviser to sections of the criminal far-right extremism and publisher of Searchlight magazine justice system. For the past 12 years contributed, together with and was one of its founding editors he has served as an independent Searchlight’s European editor in 1964. He also acts as a consultant adviser on race hate crime to the Graeme Atkinson, to two European to Searchlight Educational Trust. Metropolitan Police Service. In that Parliament reports on racism and He has pursued his lifelong interest role he participated in quarterly xenophobia. He has also given in combating the far-right enemies meetings with the Minister of State evidence to the House of of democracy alongside a career as for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Commons Home Affairs a television investigative journalist Crime and Policing. He has also Committee and to Sir William and producer, which in turn gave lectured in the USA, Canada and a Macpherson’s enquiry into the rise to his work as a trainer and number of European countries on death of Stephen Lawrence. Dr Paul Jackson Dr Paul Jackson (author of chapters he coordinates a research group and New Media also hosts 5 and 7) lectures in far-right based at the University of conferences and promotes wider politics, modern history and media Northampton, Radicalism and awareness of far-right politics. at the University of Northampton. New Media. This is a specialist, He will be publishing a major His research interests include the applied research unit that develops report on the English Defence history and ideology of British consultancy projects with a range League in autumn 2011 and has fascism and the far right, extremist of practitioner partners, including previously written a number of ideologies in the twentieth century, police, probation and NGOs. articles and specialist and radicalism and new media. Developing a particular expertise encyclopaedia entries on fascism Alongside Dr Matthew Feldman, in far-right politics, Radicalism and extremism. Additional research and writing by The author wishes to thank a team Sonia Gable, BSc, deputy editor of of researchers from Searchlight and Searchlight magazine and specialist of course our brilliant designer. in investigating the financial affairs of the British far right 4 | Lone wolves: myth or reality? Lone wolves: myth or reality? Contents page Executive summary 6 Chapter 1 Introduction 9 Chapter 2 An ongoing trail of terror 15 Chapter 3 The UK’s far-right “terrorists” and would-be “terrorists”: profiles 23 Chapter 4 The lone wolf: views from experts and criminal justice practitioners 69 Chapter 5 Solo actor terrorism and the mythology of the lone wolf by Paul Jackson 79 Chapter 6 These people are dangerous 89 Chapter 7 Tackling violent extremism in the community by Paul Jackson 101 Chapter 8 Recommendations 111 Further reading and useful contacts 118 Appendix A List of some known convictions of members or associates of far-right groups 120 Appendix B Extract from Crown Prosecution Service guidelines on prosecuting “violent extremism” 134 Appendix C Crown Prosecution Service Counter-Terrorism Division case summaries 136 Appendix D The POWER investigation 139 Lone wolves: myth or reality? | 5 Lone wolves: myth or reality? Executive summary David Copeland’s two-week used the internet to associate with strong hostility to immigrants and bombing campaign in spring 1999 likeminded people, exchange ideas described himself as a patriot ready brought the existence of far-right and obtain information about how to defend his country. Again his terrorism into the public eye. In fact to acquire weapons or make political links were played down to he was not the first far-right explosives and deadly chemicals. the extent that after he was terrorist to be convicted in Britain sentenced in January 2010 a police and many others have followed. The current wave of far-right terror spokesperson claimed Gavan’s Nevertheless the police, Crown in the UK has its origins in the association with a political party Prosecution Service and courts 1960s with the synagogue arsonists was of no interest. Nevertheless, the have generally viewed far-right and the violent activities of a police and courts were beginning to terrorists as isolated individuals – handful of nazi leaders, including take far-right links with terrorism lone wolves – rather than the Colin Jordan and John Tyndall. more seriously. For example inevitable consequence of the In the 1980s there was notably following the conviction of Martyn activities of several, often small, Tony Lecomber, a British National Gilleard in 2008, a spokesperson for organisations that espouse a violent Party member, who attempted to the CPS Counter Terrorism Division racist and fascist ideology. This has blow up the offices of a leftwing stated: “This is a man who is meant that the authorities have political party. Although the police comfortable with the idea of a race failed to put in place effective found grenades, petrol bombs and war and was preparing for one – strategies to monitor these detonators at his home, he was going so far as to manufacture extreme-right groups with a view to sentenced to only three years in bombs and collect weapons.” early identification of those prison after, incredibly, the judge individuals who show signs of told him: “You are not a terrorist in The trial of Ian and Nicky Davison making the transition from racist the normal sense of the word, nor in May 2010 revealed the existence abuse and threatening behaviour to were you acting on behalf of some of the Aryan Strike Force. Ian terrorism and murder. political group.” Davison, father of 19-year-old Nicky, had manufactured ricin and This report includes case studies of A less well known extreme-right other bombs and notably was the nearly 40 individuals holding terrorist of the 1980s was Richard first person in Britain to be far-right political views who have Barnes, a murderer who holds the sentenced under the Chemical been convicted for violence or distinction of being Britain’s first Weapons Act 1996 for producing a terrorist offences. The details attempted extremist suicide chemical weapon. Police believed revealed in court showed that they bomber, when he drove a car into the pair – nazi zealots who revered were motivated, and obtained the the entrance of a left-wing Hitler and hated black people, knowledge and wherewithal to bookshop and set fire to it. Muslims and Jews – were in contact carry out their acts, through with around 300 nazis worldwide. dangerous networks that Another would-be bomber who introduced them to a perverse joined the BNP was Terence Gavan. Often the activities of these ideological world. Many of them The Old Bailey jury heard he had a extreme-right terrorists were only 6 | Lone wolves: myth or reality? Executive summary discovered by luck.