Overview
- McKenzie Morgan, now 18 and newly identifiable, was detained for 14 months at the Old Bailey after admitting possession of material likely to be useful to a terrorist.
- Prosecutors said he praised Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana in Snapchat messages, researched bombs and ricin, and discussed targeting an Oasis concert in Cardiff plus a nearby dance school and playground.
- A Snapchat contact alerted police, after which he was referred to children’s mental health services and told a psychiatric nurse he wanted to hurt others.
- Officers seized his devices and found the Al Qaeda Training Manual, with further messages asking how to burn people’s faces and whether a 15cm kitchen knife would work.
- In interview he said he sent the messages out of boredom and denied any intent to attack, while his lawyer cited autism, no history of violence, and a greater risk of self-harm.