An anti-vaxxer who called for a wave of terror against the government during the covid pandemic has been convicted.
Patrick Ruane, 55, from west London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of two counts of encouragement of terrorism.
He was charged after an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Ruane had encouraged others to carry out violent attacks in response to the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic using social media to spread his message, the court heard.
He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 8 November.
Officers arrested Ruane in November 2021 at his flat in west London, where they also seized a number of electronic devices. The devices were analysed by specialist officers and they found that he had posted in various groups which were against the government policies in relation to Covid-19 and the vaccination rollout.
Officers identified that amongst his posts were a large number of messages where Ruane had actively encouraged people to commit acts of violence.
Detectives found posts where he was encouraging others to target staff linked to pharmaceutical companies producing the Covid-19 vaccinations. Ruane also posted about targeting MPs and police, as well as bombing vaccine laboratories and 5G infrastructure.
Acting Commander Gareth Rees, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said after Ruane was found guilty on Friday: “Our investigation found large numbers of posts by Ruane where he was encouraging others to carry out extremely violent acts, all because he didn’t like the government’s response to the pandemic. This wasn’t idle chit-chat online – he was encouraging people to seriously injure or kill others, suggesting who to target.
“This case should serve as a warning that if you’re encouraging people to commit acts of terrorism, then we will investigate. Where we find evidence of this, then there are very serious consequences, something that Ruane is now facing.”
Bethan David, Head of Counter Terrorism Division, at the Crown Prosecution Service added: “This is a dangerous man who was prolific in encouraging violence because of his firmly held beliefs in a conspiracy theory.
“During a time when the nation was suffering a devastating pandemic and many lost loved ones, Patrick Ruane was using Telegram to spread false and damaging information and encourage violence and terrorism.
“He posed a credible threat to the peace and safety of the public, and it is only right that he has been found guilty. The CPS will always seek to prosecute such appalling criminal behaviour whether carried out in person or online to keep the public safe.”
