Man found guilty of crossbow weapons haul but incel-linked terror plot ‘not proven’

Crossbow and machete were among weapons Gabrielle Friel, 22, was found guilty of possessing

The sun sets over the New Town area of Edinburgh on May 3, 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland. A 22-year-old man has been found guilty of possessing weapons at multiple locations in the city. (Getty Images)

A 22-year-old man has been found guilty under the Terrorism Act of possessing weapons including a crossbow and machete at a number of locations across Edinburgh.

Gabrielle Friel was found guilty of having weapons at his home, a social work centre and a hospital, with his actions sparking fears that he had obtained the weapons to potentially carry out a terrorist act. 

A second charge that he had been preparing for terrorist acts by researching spree killings, however, was found not proven following Friel’s five-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. 

The 22-year-old had been accused of researching spree killings related to incels, people who are involuntarily celibate. 

Friel was accused of having “expressed affinity with and sympathy for one incel-motivated mass murderer” and of having expressed “a desire to carry out a spree killing mass murder”, according to PA. 

Specifically, Friel had said the idea of a mass shooting was a “fantasy” for him. 

He also said that he “felt for” incel mass murderer Elliot Rodger. 

However, he denied being an incel himself and also described people who did carry out killings as “evil”.

The 22-year-old denied both charges and gave evidence in his own defence.

While the second charge against him was not proven, Judge Lord Beckett told the 22-year-old: “You have been found guilty of charge one, which is a very serious charge”. 

However, he said, “before dealing with you, I can’t proceed without calling for a criminal justice social work report".

The judge deferred sentencing until 12 January. 

However, he told the jury Friel was likely to face a “substantial prison sentence”.