A SCOTTISH neo-Nazi who hoarded an “array of weaponry” has been jailed for 10 years.
Alan Edward, a 55-year-old from Falkirk, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.
He had been found guilty of promoting a banned far-right Neo-Nazi group online and keeping a large quantity of weapons at a trial in Stirling’s High Court in September. He also incited racial and antisemitic hatred and Holocaust denial.
Edward was found to be in possession of 14 knives including some with Nazi and SS insignia, machetes, a crossbow, a tomahawk, a samurai sword, a catapult, an extendable baton, a stun gun, an air pistol, an SS-style skull mask, knuckledusters, and fighting gloves when police raided his home in 2022.
Officers further said that enquiries established that between December 2017 and September 2022, he posted and shared videos, memes and images online of a racist, homophobic and violent nature, including information associated with extreme right-wing groups.
Sentencing, Judge Fiona Tait told Edward: "For such serious offences there is no appropriate alternative to a prison sentence.
"It is necessary to punish you and deter you and others from engaging in activities for the purposes of terrorism and to protect the public from you."
Detective Superintendent Stephen Clark, head of counter terrorism investigations at Police Scotland, said: “Edward shared extreme racist and homophobic content online with the aim of stirring up hatred and spreading fear and alarm. His complete disregard for the corrosive impact this could have on our communities heightened these dangerous actions.
“It is entirely unacceptable to promote terrorism or extremism, and this conviction displays how we will not hesitate to investigate online or offline behaviour which breaches terrorism or other criminal legislation.
“Holding an array of weaponry posed a clear and significant risk to the public which underlines the importance of him being brought to justice.
“We are committed to combatting terrorism and help and support from the public is vital. Anyone with information on a terrorist threat should contact Police Scotland on 101 immediately.”
