Teenager convicted of attempted suicide bombing at UK synagogue

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

Jewish groups have welcomed news that a 19-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after planning a suicide attack on a synagogue.

Mason Reynolds, a student and part-time worker in Brighton, planned the attack as an escalation of his neo-Nazi ideology, Sky News reported citing prosecutor Naomi Parsons.

Reynolds pleaded guilty to four offenses of possessing material useful for terrorism and five offenses of distributing material likely to encourage terrorism.

Parsons reportedly told Winchester Crown Court that Reynolds was a neo-Nazi who believed the white race was “destined to dominate the rest of humanity”.

Parsons emphasized that Reynolds “doesn't end up here [in court] because he has political, racial or ideological views that some may find distasteful, even odious… He is here because he not only held those political, racial and ideological views, he acted on them.

Anti-Semitic graffiti discovered in Brighton and Hove, England, on November 17, 2020. (credit: AMANDA MENAHEM)

Police discovered that Reynolds had copies of the Mujahideen Explosives Manual, the Terrorist Manual, and the Anarchist Cookbook on his computer, as well as files that allegedly allowed him to make a 3D-printed assault rifle called FGC-9.

Reynolds was arrested in May 2023. Police found a note on his phone titled “Enough LARPing.” Larping refers to live action role-playing.

The note contained video taken from outside the Hove Synagogue, the address of the synagogue and the location of CCTV cameras and emergency exits in the synagogue.

On an image of the synagogue, he marked the photo as “the quickest and most efficient means of entry,” adding, “This could be useful for a surprise attack.”

Inspiration from previous attacks

Reynolds has extensively studied synagogues and attacks on synagogues in the United States, so he can catalog “examples of what to expect inside.”

“The Jewish holidays that attract the most people to synagogues are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover,” he noted in another note.

Reynolds had also produced images with text reading “Make the Jews Scare Again” – a play on former US President Donald Trump's slogan “Make America Great Again”.

Reynolds discussed his plans with another teen on Telegram where he said: “I want to attach several pipes [bombs] against my chest and blow me up in a synagogue… I have a plan.

He told the teenager: “They won't let me through the door if I'm suspicious, like Stéphan Balliet.” Balliet attempted a similar attack in Germany in 2019, but failed to enter the synagogue. Balliet killed 2 people.

The Community Security Trust wrote on X: “CST welcomes the conviction of Mason Reynolds, a teenage neo-Nazi who planned a suicide attack on a local synagogue in Hove. We work closely with Counter Terrorism Police and the Hove Hebrew Congregation to support and reassure the local community. The threat of terrorism facing Jewish communities is why security remains an essential part of Jewish communal life, and it is what continues to motivate and guide the work of the CSE.

CST welcomes the conviction of Mason Reynolds, a teenage neo-Nazi who planned a suicide attack on a local synagogue in Hove. We work closely with Counter Terrorism Police and the Hove Hebrew Congregation to support and reassure the local community. The threat of…

– CST (@CST_UK) June 14, 2024

Head of CTPSE, Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, said: “This is another case involving a young person following a toxic far-right terrorist and anti-Semitic path. The fact that Reynolds had such a detailed plan to attack a synagogue is truly concerning.

“However, as a result of our investigation, Reynolds was unable to carry out the plan and the public was protected.

“Communities have a key role to play in our work to fight terrorism. Please continue to report things that are disturbing or inappropriate. While you may think it may be insignificant, it could be a vital piece of the puzzle that stops a terrorist in his tracks.

“If you have any concerns you can report them to your local force by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency or you can visit the ACT early website. Reporting can save lives.