A MAN will stand trial next year accused of preparing to commit acts of terrorism and suggesting online that he planned to attack a mosque.
Sam Imrie, 22, allegedly acquired knives, nunchucks, a hammer, a baseball bat, a rifle scope and petrol, which he referred to as his “arsenal”, between June 20 and July 4 this year.
He is accused of posting statements on the internet platform Telegram indicating he planned to stream live footage of an incident and posted statements suggesting he was going to carry out an attack on the Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes.
It is also alleged he recorded and compiled details of terrorist attacks on places of worship. Imrie denied all the charges against him when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson forced to apologise for his ‘letterbox’ burka remark
It is alleged that, intending to commit acts of terrorism, he engaged in conduct in preparation at various places in Glenrothes and Markinch in Fife and elsewhere between June 20 and July 4.
Prosecutors claim he repeatedly tried to get into the centre and uploaded photographs and video footage of it to Telegram, and also set fire to property at Strathore Lodge in Thornton and St Drostan’s Cemetery in Markinch.
They allege he went to the Fife Islamic Centre in a car with a can of petrol and that Imrie possessed Nazi, neo-Nazi, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic and other racist or violent images; text and audio files and images that glorified terrorism.
Imrie is also accused of publishing or causing another person to publish statements, images and video footage on Facebook and Telegram glorifying terrorist acts committed by others, making offensive comments about the Muslim and Jewish communities and uttering racial remarks. It is alleged the offences were racially aggravated and aggravated by religious prejudice.
Imrie faces two charges under the Terrorism Act 2006 and one under the Terrorism Act 2000. He is also accused of possessing “extreme pornographic images” and that he took or permitted to be taken, or made, indecent photos or pseudo-photographs of children and that he drove while unfit through drink or drugs on July 4 this year. A trial date was set for June 1.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here