Son of 'tartan terrorist' faces jail term over parcel bombs threat

Published on Thursday 21 May 2009 22:22

THE son of a man dubbed "the tartan terrorist" caused a huge security alert by claiming he had sent parcel bombs to the First Minister and other politicians , a court heard yesterday.

Adam Busby jnr had been sitting in a bar in Paisley with a pint of lager when he issued the warning to the media, using a recognised code word.

The next day, two suspicious packages, which contained shotgun cartridges, were intercepted.

Busby, 34, the son of Adam Busby – the self-styled commander of the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) known as "the tartan terrorist" – will be sentenced next month.

One of the packages had been addressed to English Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles and the other was delivered to Glasgow's city chambers.

In notes, Busby had written: "Just because you can't see us doesn't mean we're not there … you are a target for death, regards SNLA."

Lord Brailsford told Busby that he had committed serious offences which, with his previous record, caused the judge "considerable concern".

Advocate depute Neil Beardmore told the High Court in Edinburgh: "Several journalists from separate media organisations received anonymous telephone calls informing them that six explosive devices had been sent through the post, and that four of these devices were intended for the First Minister, Alex Salmond, Mike Rumbles, MSP, the Scottish National Party headquarters in Glasgow, and the city chambers of Glasgow City Council."

Busby was caught after the calls were traced to his mobile phone, and police launched an armed surveillance operation.

The packages he sent were intercepted by staff at the Royal Mail in Aberdeen and Glasgow City Council workers, who had been alerted by police.

After he had made the phone calls, Busby asked staff in the pub to change channel on the television so that he could watch the Scottish news.

Two journalists were able to obtain the number of the telephone that had been used to make the calls.

Busby, of Morar Drive, Paisley, is currently serving a nine-month jail term for possession of a knife. In 2001, he received a six-year sentence for petrol-bombing a house in Paisley.

He admitted charges of breach of the peace, possessing ammunition and sending an item by post with the intention of inducing others to believe it was likely to explode or ignite.

A risk assessment report is being carried out and sentencing deferred until next month.