Boy wanted to carry out mass shooting at Edinburgh secondary school

A teenager obsessed with murder wanted to carry out a mass shooting at his own school, a court heard.

The boy “idolised” the killers behind the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in the United States in 1999, which saw 12 students and a teacher shot.

He repeatedly spoke about doing the same at his own Edinburgh secondary school, describing the “Doomsday” when he would “clear it out”.

However, a major police investigation 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.

The boy had already been referred to Prevent – the UK-wide program designed to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

He also held racist and pro-Nazi views.

The now 17-year-old – who cannot be identified for legal reasons due to his age – appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday.

He pleaded guilty – through his defence KC Shelagh McCall – to a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act.

The crimes spanned between June 2022 and July 2023.

The teenager had his bail revoked by judge Lord Arthurson pending sentencing next month.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell told how, on June 20, 2023, the boy had turned up at school wearing boots as well as cargo trousers and had brought with him a military tactical vest and helmet.

“He was later seen at the school carrying an imitation firearm while wearing the vest and helmet,” he said.

“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 with footage of him in black combat clothes and a skeleton mask.

“One piece of commentary referenced school shootings,” the prosecutor said.

The teenager was immediately suspended.

It emerged the vest and helmet were part of a costume for a short film he had been involved in for a drama class. He had been the “kidnapper” and had used a “prop gun”.

Police, however, went on take statements from other pupils who knew the boy.

“They provided information that the boy had exhibited a variety of alarming behaviours over a period of time,” Mr Farrell said.

“The greatest concern was a 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 the boy “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”.

“In November 2022, he told her how he would go about carrying out a school attack,” Mr Farrell said.

“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.”

The boy 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.

“He spoke about setting up trip wires at fire exits and of placing ‘pipe bombs’ at the school,” Mr Farrell said.

The boy claimed he would buy a 3D printer to help construct a firearm.

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.

“One pupil told police that the boy wore the same black trousers, trench coat, cap worn backwards and circular glasses as favoured by one of the Columbine pair,” the prosecutor told the court.

“He often made comments that he ‘looked like a school shooter’.”

The boy told another classmate that he would “place a bomb in every second classroom”.

He would then shoot people as they fled the building.

The boy further openly chatted about the making of what were described as deadly “pressure cooker bombs”.

The court heard he wanted to get a job in a gun shop and steal firearm parts “one by one”.

The boy 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.

He had also told her that he wanted to “poison” people by getting them to drink something.

His phone was described as being “full” of photos and videos of shootings as well as others of Hitler and Nazi Germany.

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 bomb… kills this time. Will be unstoppable.”

The hearing was told the boy 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 made in June 2023 after the image of the boy in the combat gear at school was circulated online.

An inquiry – started 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”.

Defence advocate Ms McCall had asked the teenager to remain on bail pending sentencing.

She described the accused as “vulnerable” with ongoing issues.

But, Lord Arthurson did not continue bail. The boy, instead, is expected to be sent to a secure unit for young people or what was described as a “place of safety”.

Sentencing was deferred for reports.