Gabrielle Friel Edinburgh terrorism trial: Top academic tells court how 'Incel' online subculture endorses violence towards 'attractive' women

A top academic has told a terrorism trial how ‘Incels’ are an online subculture which endorse acts of violence towards ‘attractive’ women.

Dr Stephane Baele gave evidence during the trial of Gabrielle Friel, who is accused of possessing a crossbow, 15 crossbow bolts, a machete and a ballistic vest in the Capital last year, giving rise to a “reasonable suspicion” that it was connected the purpose of instigating acts of terrorism.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard previously that Friel, 22, allegedly conducted online searches in relation to spree killings which were motivated by Incels - involuntary celibates - and that he expressed a desire to “carry out a spree killing mass murder.”

Dr Beale, 37, told a jury on Thursday how Incels is an expression for groups of mostly men who are ‘involuntary celibate’.

Gabrielle Friel is on trial accused of terrorism offences at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court heard how Incels believe that society is structured along lines of sexual and physical attractiveness.

Dr Beale, who is a senior lecturer in the Politics Department at Exeter University, said that Incel men believe they are the ‘bottom’ grouping of society and that physically attractive women are at the top.

The court heard how such men blame women for their inability to have sex lives and endorse acts like rape and acid attacks against females.

The ‘Manosphere galazy’

Dr Baele, who is regarded as being a leading expert on Incels, wrote a report for Crown lawyers currently prosecuting Friel.

He wrote that the group occupies part of the internet he called the ‘Manosphere galaxy’ and said Incels post on internet web sites like Reddit and message boards like 4 Chan and 8 Chan, which is now closed but links to far right wing political views.

He wrote: “Within this manosphere galaxy, there are a series of chatrooms where Incels, who share a very specific understanding of society as being strictly hierarchised along beauty lines and locate themselves at the very bottom of this.

“They post very offensive content online such as ‘women need to be raped’.”

Dr Baele was giving evidence on the third day of proceedings against Mr Friel, of Edinburgh.

The 22-year-old denies expressing ‘affinity’ and sympathy for a ‘Incel motivated mass murderer’ whilst intending to commit acts of terrorism.

Dr Baele told the court that he has spent time researching the Incel sub culture.

He said hat the Incel movement has been linked to acts of violence. Dr Baele said that a man called Alek Minassian had posted on websites used by Incels.

Mr Minassian is currently standing trial in Canada for allegedly murdering 10 people by driving a van into them in Toronto in April 2018. He has also pleaded not guilty to 16 charges of attempted murder.

Speaking about the content posted by Mr Minassian, Dr Baele told the court: “He laments on his loneliness and lack of romantic relationship.”

Dr Baele told prosecution lawyer Richard Goddard QC that many of the sites used by the Incels have “tens of thousands” of users.

Dr Baele, who also advises the UK Parliament, wrote: “I define Incel as an online community whose members understand society to be hierarchised along sex and attractiveness that favours women and excludes men who are not good looking for any romantic or sexual relationship forcing them into involuntary celibacy.”

Dr Baele said that postings on web sites used by Incels include misogyny, racist views, a “sense of entitlement to sex” and “endorsement of violence towards attractive people.”

He added: “There is a resentment towards people who are in relationships, against society in general and against women in general.”

Dr Baele also said that many posters have negative images of themselves.

He added: “There are posts about feeling sad about being rejected. There is a lot of discussion about suicide and suicidal thoughts.”

Prosecutors claim that Friel allegedly intended to carry out acts of terrorism by conducting online research in an attempt to acquire a firearm.

It is also claimed that Friel allegedly conducted Internet searches in relation to ‘spree killing mass murderers’.

Prosecutors claim Mr Friel also researched ‘in particular spree killing mass murders committed by individuals expressing motivation or affiliation with Incels’.

It is also claimed that Mr Friel allegedly expressed a desire to carry out a ‘spree killing mass murder’ and conducted further online research into buying a crossbow, a scope, 15 crossbow arrows, a machete and a ballistic vest.

He is then said to have assembled a crossbow at his home in Edinburgh and prosecutors claim these actions breached section five (1) (a) of the 2006 Terrorism Act.

His alleged actions are said to have taken place between June 1 2019 and August 16 2019.

Prosecutors also allege that between June 1 2019 and August 16 2019, at various locations in Edinburgh, Mr Friel possessed a crossbow, a scope, 15 crossbow arrows, a machete and a ballistic vest.

The locations named in the charge include his home in Comely Bank Road, Grindlay Court Community Justice Social Work in Edinburgh and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

In this charge, prosecutors claim that this gave rise “to reasonable suspicion” that his possession was “for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of act of terrorism”.

Another charge alleges that on various occasions between July 12 2019 and August 16 2019, at his home address in Edinburgh, Mr Friel behaved “in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm”.

Prosecutors say he purchased a crossbow, a scope, crossbow arrows, a machete and a ballistic vest and that he stored them at his home.

The fourth charge claims that between August 14 2019 and August 16 2019, at Grindlay Court Community Justice Social Work Centre in Edinburgh, he behaved in a threatening manner. It is said that on that occasion, he expressed an “intention to commit a terrorist attack”.

Mr Friel has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial, before Lord Beckett, continues.

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