Man who wanted to kill Prince Charles guilty of terror plot

A man who felt “belittled by society” for being a white, ginger-haired male and fantasised about shooting Prince Charles so Prince Harry could be king has been found guilty of plotting a terror attack “for the Aryan people”, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

Mark Colborne, 37, compared himself to the Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik – who killed 77 people in 2011 – and made notes in a diary detailing plans to assassinate the royal heir with a sniper rifle. He also acquired manuals entitled Assorted Nasties, Silent Death and The Poor Man’s James Bond, jurors were told.

Alison Darlow QC, prosecuting, told a court that the defendant had trawled the internet for explosives and poisons and bought books on the subject. He allegedly bought chemicals online that formed the essential ingredients for cyanide and stockpiled dust masks, metal filter funnels, plastic syringes and latex gloves.

Colborne was arrested on 3 June last year after his half-brother found papers detailing his racial hatred stashed in his bedroom at the family home in Southampton.

The Old Bailey in London heard how Colborne had written of his wish to carry out a terror attack, stating: “I will put a major dent in England, one that is felt around the world. If for some reason I cannot perform a major operation, then I will still opt for low-level attacks.”

Comparing himself with rightwing extremists, he said: “I’m looking for major retribution, a mass terrorist attack which will bring to the attention our pain – not just mine but my brothers’ around the world.”

In March last year, Colborne bought various ingredients for cyanide, the court heard. On 3 June, Kevin Colborne came across receipts for chemicals his brother had bought while preparing to decorate the home.

He became concerned after learning that the chemicals could be used for fireworks and alerted his mother, Patricia. Together they went into Colborne’s “extremely cluttered” bedroom, uncovered an assortment of chemicals, the books and other equipment, and called the police.

Darlow told the court that the defendant had depression and agoraphobia and had led a relatively isolated life. She said: “He clearly had experienced a troubled childhood and perceived himself as marginalised and belittled by society because he was a white, ginger-haired male.”

A jury could not agree a verdict after a trial earlier this year, but Colborne was found guilty at the Old Bailey following a retrial. A jury deliberated for more than 14 hours to deliver its majority verdict on Tuesday.

The jury rejected allegations that Colborne possessed chemicals to make cyanide and dimethyl sulfoxide and stockpiled paraphernalia including syringes, screw-top spray and face masks.

Judge John Bevan QC adjourned sentencing until Tuesday 3 November. Colborne made no reaction as the verdict was delivered.

Source: MENA