Terrorism accused said ‘non-whites are inferior’ court told

A MAN accused of plotting a terrorist attack told police he was a ‘white nationalist’ and believed non-whites were inferior, a court heard yesterday.

Sam Imrie made the claim to officers after he was arrested following a raid on his home.

The 24-year-old said claims he was going to set fire to a mosque were a ‘joke’ and that he wasn’t serious when he said on social media he planned to broadcast it live to internet users.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Imrie spoke as he was being interviewed by detectives following his arrest in July 2019. Officers believed he was plotting a terrorist attack at Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes.

Imrie told the police he had been drinking when he allegedly posted comments on messaging app Telegram, which police believed broke terrorism laws.

Speaking about comments in which he said he ‘hated’ Jewish,

‘Users saw right through him’

black and Muslim people, Imrie, of Glenrothes, told them: ‘I wouldn’t do it if I was sober.’

The claims came in a recording played to jurors yesterday of a police interview with Imrie on July 8, 2019.

Police made references to comments made on Telegram group FashWave Artists dismissing Imrie’s claims he was going to carry out a terrorism attack. Officers said it appeared these users had ‘seen right through him’. One detective said: ‘You were never going to burn it down, it was all for show?’ He replied: ‘Yes.’ The court later heard a digitally altered image of pop star Taylor Swift wearing sunglasses with swastika lenses was found on his computer.

Imrie denies nine charges, including that he posted statements suggesting he would attack the Fife Islamic Centre, between June 20 and July 4, 2019. The trial continues.