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Daily Record
22 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Scots teen who planned ‘Columbine-style' school massacre jailed for six years
Felix Winter repeatedly spoke about a 'Doomsday' shooting at his Edinburgh secondary school. A teenager who wanted to carry-out a mass shooting at his own school has been locked up for six years. Felix Winter 'idolised' the killers behind the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in the United States in 1999, which saw 12 students and a teacher gunned down. He repeatedly spoke about doing the same at his own Edinburgh secondary describing the 'Doomsday' when he would 'clear it out'. But, a large-scale police probe was sparked in the summer of 2023 after a social media photo of him at school in full combat-gear and carrying an imitation gun caused panic among pupils and parents. Winter had already been referred to a UK-wide programme designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It emerged he had been 'radicalised' having spent more than 1,000 hours in contact with an extremist pro-Nazi online Discord now 18 year-old – who it was previously heard is transgender - appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today. He had pleaded guilty in February to a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act. The crimes spanned between June 2022 and July 2023. Winter's lawyer had urged Lord Arthurson to consider a strict alternative to custody citing a number of factors including to allow him to get the help he continues to need. But, the judge ruled that out stating in his sentencing remarks that Winter appeared to be 'progressing to the brink of a mass school shooting'. Prosecutor Greg Farrell earlier told how, on June 20 2023, Winter had turned up at school wearing boots as well as cargo trousers and had brought with him a military tactical vest and helmet. Mr Farrell said: "He was later seen at the school carrying an imitation firearm while wearing the vest and helmet. A photograph was circulated on social media. It was taken and published without his knowledge. The image provoked a considerable degree of fear and alarm among pupils and parents. Police were advised by a parent who saw the image." Officers went on to discover that the boy had a TikTok account which had footage of him in black combat clothes as well as a skeleton mask. Mr Farrell said: "One piece of commentary referenced school shootings." The teenager was immediately emerged the vest and helmet were part of a costume for a short film he had been involved in for a drama class. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He had been the "kidnapper" and had used a "prop gun". Police, however, went on take statements from other pupils who knew Winter. Mr Farrell added: "They provided information that the boy had exhibited a variety of alarming behaviours over a period of time." "The greatest concern was suggestion he had divulged to various people a desire to carry out a school shooting similar to that which had taken place in 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado in the USA." Classmates recalled how Winter "spoke excitedly and with considerable enthusiasm" when he talked about Columbine and other school shootings. He "sympathised" with the pair behind it - Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris - and would copy how they had dressed. One girl said he "idolised school shooters in America". Mr Farrell explained: "In November 2022, he told her how he would go about carrying out a school attack. He explained that he would start on the second floor and that he would 'clear it out' using guns. "He would then move downstairs continuing to shoot until police arrived, at which point he would turn the gun on himself." Winter described a possible mass shooting at his school as "Doomsday". He said it would occur on April Fool's Day or his last day of sixth year. Mr Farrell added: "He spoke about setting up trip wires at fire exits and of placing 'pipe bombs' at the school." He was said to be so "interested" in Columbine that he stated he wanted to change his name "in an act of homage" to Klebold. Mr Farrell said: "One pupil told police that (Winter) wore the same black trousers, trench coat, cap worn backwards and circular glasses as favoured by one of the Columbine pair. "He often made comments that he 'looked like a school shooter '." Winter told another classmate that he would "place a bomb in every second classroom". He would then shoot people as they fled the building. The teenager further openly chatted about the making of what were described as deadly "pressure cooker bombs". Winter further told one girl he met online that he wanted to carry out a shooting as he was being bullied and was "fed up" being there. His phone was described as being "full" of photos and videos of shootings as well as others of Hitler and Nazi Germany. The boy had further claimed "n*****s are good for nothing" and that they "should be wiped out". The teenager was stopped by police under the Terrorism Act as he returned from holiday with his family on July 9 2023. A number of his electronic devices were seized. There were various files on a mobile phone including about 'homemade' firearms and poisons. The court heard he had 65 videos of Columbine and had added music which appeared to "glamourise" the mass killing. He had recorded another clip of him at his own school which seemed to "mimic the actions" of the American shooters. Police also seized a journal in which the boy had made various sinister remarks. One stated: "I can't wait to hold my gun again in my gear. Hoping I'll get a this time. Will be unstoppable." The hearing was told Winter had previously been referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme due to concerns. The first - in November 2022 - was as a result of worries raised by fellow pupils. The visit at the family home included a terrorism officer attending. It was said this initial meeting appeared to "go well" and that the boy "engaged" with the police. It was then decided at that time the involvement of Prevent would end. However, the boy continued to openly discuss school shootings although no further action was taken. The second referral was then made in June 2023 after the image of the boy in the combat gear at school was circulated online. A probe - sparked by the deputy head teacher - had revealed "a catalogue of episodes" of the boy displaying "a variety of alarming behaviour". The court heard a more recent concern was flagged up by the college the boy now attends of him allegedly remarking that he was "annoyed at getting caught". The court previously heard Winter was 'a vulnerable young person' with mental health issues. Shelagh McCall KC, defending, said: 'I say that his actions fall outside the definition of terrorism. There is no evidence that the actions were for advancing such a case. The cause, in so far as there was one, was revenge for bullying." The advocate added any racist or right wing views stemmed from his contact with the online Discord group. Miss McCall added: 'I invite the court to take the view that he was groomed by the online community. The accused, at the time, did not understand the illegality or appreciate the fear and alarm that he was likely to cause with his behaviour. "There was reinforcement all day, every day from the Discord community." The also KC stated that Winter has "significantly changed" since the offences. She said an alternative to custody would allow Winter to get the help he needs now rather than wait until he is released.
STV News
23 minutes ago
- STV News
Teen who wanted to carry out 'Doomsday' mass shooting at school jailed for six years
An Edinburgh teenager who wanted to carry out a mass shooting at his own school has been jailed for six years. Felix Winter, now aged 18, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday. He repeatedly spoke about carrying out an attack at his secondary school, referring to the day he would 'clear it out' as 'Doomsday'. Jurors previously heard the teenager 'idolised' the killers behind the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in the United States in 1999, which saw 12 students and a teacher gunned down. A major police investigation began in the summer of 2023 after a photo circulated on social media showing the boy at school in full combat gear, carrying an imitation gun, which caused panic among pupils and parents. Winter had already been referred to a UK-wide anti-terrorism programme aimed at preventing radicalisation. He also held racist and pro-Nazi views. Winter pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act. His offending took place between June 2022 and July 2023. Defence KC Shelach McCall told the court in March that a professor who assessed her client found a 'serious link' between his autism and his behaviour, arguing it was his condition – rather than extremism – that drove his obsession with school shootings. Ms McCall said the boy had made a 'marked improvement' since his offending. She said: 'He has expressed regret and recognises that he didn't previously appreciate how his behaviour was impacting on others. 'He accepts in the context of his plea of guilty and his remarks about school shootings in 2022, him dressing in that costume and carrying that in a school would generate alarm to those who came upon it but this was not his intent.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Real-life Emmerdale couple confirm wedding date in sweet post – and it's just days away
REAL life Emmerdale couple Max Parker and Kris Mochrie have confirmed their wedding date - and it's just days away. The actors - who played brothers Luke and Lee Posner in the ITV soap - will tie the knot at a glittering ceremony this summer. 2 2 And now the stars have taken to social media to reveal when. While details of their ceremony remain scarce, the happy couple will walk down the aisle in just a week's time. Max posted: 'One week until we get hitched!' And alongside another picture of the couple, he wrote: 'Seven days and we're married.' The pair met while filming on the ITV soap five years ago and although they never actually shared a scene together, Max and Kris hit it off backstage and got together in 2020. The Sun exclusively revealed that Max and Kris had begun dating back in 2020. During their early courtship, the pair could be seen living life in style, including enjoying a lavish holiday to Dubai. By the end of the year, they had moved into their first home together. In 2022, they celebrated another major milestone in their relationship as they announced their engagement. Max revealed he popped the question to Kris, describing the moment he said yes as 'the happiest' of his life. He wrote on Instagram today: 'He deserves the world, but the best I could do was promise him my heart. HE SAID YES! Emmerdale's Max Parker and Kris Mochrie dance in their underwear in steamy video from romantic holiday 'Happiest moment of my life. @krismoc my fiancée.' Kris later revealed how Max had part of his late grandmother's treasured locket made into the engagement ring. Writing on Instagram, he said: 'The beautiful soul that is my best friend asked me to marry him yesterday. I can't begin to describe how happy I am. 'I love him beyond words, we laugh every single day and I'm so, so grateful that he came in to my life. Real-life soap couples Soaps are renowned for their sweet and scandalous romances – but it's not just in scripted storylines where love is blossoming. A number of our favourite small-screen actors have fallen for co-stars and soapland rivals when the cameras have stopped rolling. Max Parker and Kris Mochrie Despite playing brothers Luke and Lee Posner on Emmerdale, the pair never actually shared any scenes together. But the pair still fell in love after meeting on set. Max and Kris got together in 2020, moving in together later than same year and got engaged in 2022. In a sweet Instagram post, the couple confirmed they're planning a 2025 wedding. Beth Cordingly and Ian Kelsey Beth, who plays Ruby Fox-Miligan, announced her love for her co-star Ian Kelsey, who played Dean Glover, shortly after she joined Emmerdale at the beginning of 2024. 'I am very in love with Ian and very happy. I think it really does work him being an actor too. He has been so fantastic," she gushed. Laura Norton and Mark Jordan Kerry Wyatt and Daz Eden actors Laura and Mark met on the set of Emmerdale in 2014. The couple, who got engaged in 2018, told Loose Women they spent a long time deciding whether they should "just stay as friends." Although it seems they were meant to be and the pair now share two children together. Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley Emmerdale favourites Zoe and Jeff, who play Rhonda Goskirk and Cain Dingle met at drama college in 1994 and have been together ever since. While working together might be too much for some couples, that's definitely not the case for Zoe and Jeff. Zoe previously told The Sun: "Working on the same show as Jeff also helps because if one of us is having a bad day then the other will completely understand." Lesley Dunlop and Chris Chittell Lesley and Chris are another Dales romantic success story. Unlike some of the other soap stars, the pair who play Brenda Walker and Eric Pollard, are together on and off screen, officially tying the knot in 2016. They also adore working together, but have clear home-work boundaries. "We make a point of not talking about Emmerdale when we're at home, though – that would be just too sad, wouldn't it?" Chris revealed. Sally Carman and Joe Duttine Abi Franklin and Tim Metcalfe actors Sally and Joe got together after meeting on the set of Coronation Street in 2017 and they tied the knot in July 2022. But unlike some of the Emmerdale stars, Sally and Joe prefer that their characters don't interact much. Sally previously admitted it "would be horrendous" to work on a storyline with Joe because "he's too funny." Anthony Cotton and Peter Eccleston Sean Tully may have been unlucky in love on the cobbles, but in real life Antony's met his Prince Charming. The soap star started dating long-term partner Peter in 2005, after they met when he was working as an assistant props buyer on Corrie. Jane Danson and Robert Beck Corrie favourite Jane Danson tied the knot with soap star Robert Beck in 2005. The actress, who plays Leanne Battersby, shares two children, Harry and Sam, with the former Brookside star. During their marriage, Robert has also done a stint in Weatherfield playing criminal Jimmy Dockerson. Caroline Harding and Chris Gascoyne Chris, who played pub landlord Peter Barlow, married soap star Caroline in 2002. Although she is best known as an Emmerdale star, Caroline did visit her husband at work when she did a two-episode stint as doctor on the Manchester soap in 2020. The couple share a daughter called Belle, plus two children, Pip and Freddie from Caroline's previous marriage. Nadine Mulkerrin and Rory Douglas Speed Nadine Mulkerrin, and Rory Doulas Speed are known for their Hollyoaks alter egos Cleo McQueen and Joel Dexter. The loved-up pair got engaged on a December 2018 trip to Amsterdam - just over a year after they announced they were dating. They now share two kids, Reggie and Dougie. Sophie Austin and Shayne Ward Former Hollyoaks star Sophie, whose best known for playing villain Lindsay Butterfield, was introduced to singer and ex-Corrie star Shayne through mutual friends. She gave birth to their daughter Willow in December 2016 and they welcomed a son in 2022. 'I had no idea at all! But it was just perfect… I mean, this film says it all. 'Max had asked my Mum, for any jewellery that my Gran had. Mum still had my Grans locket, and he has had it made in to the middle of the engagement ring on the inside. So so special. 'Thank you to the job that brought us together, our incredible family and friends. And the amazing love from you all. I'm a very lucky boy.'
