A 46-year-old man from Leeds has today, Thursday, April 11 2024, pleaded guilty to four terrorism offences at Sheffield Crown Court.
Colin McNeil (31/08/1977) of Beeston Road provided a service, in the form of an online website, that facilitated others to obtain terrorist publications and by doing so committed four dissemination offences contrary to Section 2(2)(d) Terrorism Act 2006.
He will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, July 5 2024.
The website was deliberately, and very publicly, unmoderated with McNeil admitting in a police interview that he knew the site had been ‘swamped’ by material supporting extreme right-wing ideologies.
When he became aware that terrorist publications were being distributed on the website, he continued to play an active role in it’s administration.
McNeil was first arrested on the 23 March 2022 after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East.
Specialist High Tech Investigators identified that Mc Neil showed admiration for terrorist publications shared on his website and also used the platform to express his own racist and extreme right-wing views.
Furthermore, a number of likeminded convicted international terrorists also used the website to further their ideologies.
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said:
“There is simply no place for racism in our society. We will continue to seek out those that facilitate and distribute these harmful ideologies.
“I would urge the public to report any concerning online material that they come across to the national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) hosted by Counter Terrorism Policing.
“This unit contains specialist officers who assess online material to determine its nature and whether it breaches legislation, requires further investigation, or highlights any safeguarding concerns.
“If any extremist content is identified, then the unit takes steps to get it removed by the host website or platform.
“Removing harmful, violent and extremist content online is critical to our efforts to reduce the spread of terrorist material and propaganda’ continues DCS Dunkerley.
“As the increase in reports to the CTIRU demonstrate, there is a real willingness from the public to tell us about concerning content.
“Their continued support is invaluable, and I’d appeal to anyone who comes across terrorist or extremist material online to report it to police at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism ”