Leeds man sentenced for hosting terrorist website

A 46-year-old man from Leeds has been sentenced to an 11 year extended sentence for four terrorism offences at Sheffield Crown Court.

Colin McNeil received an 11 year extended sentence, comprising of seven years in custody and four years on extended licence. He will also be subject to a terrorist notification order for 30 years.

He provided a service, in the form of an online website, that facilitated others to obtain terrorist publications and by doing so committed four dissemination offences contrary to Section 2(2)(d) Terrorism Act 2006.

The website was deliberately, and very publicly, unmoderated with McNeil admitting in a police interview that he knew the site had been ‘swamped’ by material supporting extreme right-wing ideologies.

When he became aware that terrorist publications were being distributed on the website, he continued to play an active role in its administration.

McNeil was first arrested on the 23 March 2022 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East.

Specialist Investigators identified that McNeil showed admiration for terrorist publications shared on his website and also used the platform to express his own racist and extreme right-wing views.

Furthermore, a number of likeminded convicted international terrorists also used the website to further their ideologies.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, detective chief superintendent James Dunkerley said: “There is simply no place for racism in our society. We will continue to seek out those that facilitate and distribute these harmful ideologies.

Dunkerley urged the public to report any concerning online material that they come across to the national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) hosted by Counter Terrorism Policing.

He said: “This unit contains specialist officers who assess online material to determine its nature and whether it breaches legislation, requires further investigation, or highlights any safeguarding concerns.

“If any extremist content is identified, then the unit takes steps to get it removed by the host website or platform.

“Removing harmful, violent and extremist content online is critical to our efforts to reduce the spread of terrorist material and propaganda’ continues DCS Dunkerley."