Gabrielle Friel: Man accused of planning terror attacks in Edinburgh 'idolised' US spree killer Elliot Rodger and felt girls were not interested in him

A man accused of terrorism offences felt that girls were not interested in him and was "very fixated" on an American spree killer.

Prosecutors allege that Gabrielle Friel, 22, was in possession of a crossbow, 15 crossbow bolts, a machete and a ballistic vest in Edinburgh last year.

A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Friel, of Comely Bank Road, allegedly conducted online searches for ‘spree killing mass murders committed by individuals expressing motivation or affiliation with Incels.’ The jury heard how this was an expression for ‘involuntary celibates.’

A social worker who met Friel in August last year wrote in an email that Friel was "almost idolising" Elliot Rodger, who killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in May 2014.

US spree killer Elliot Rodger

Sarah Drummond wrote in the message: "Most of our meeting was Gabrielle talking about his anger and resentment from the past. He speaks about feeling humiliated as a child. Something he has shared over the time we have known him."

She said he continued to feel he has been unfairly treated in life and had been ruminating a lot. She added that he was "very fixated (almost idolising) Elliot Roger, a California spree killer at a university" stating that "he feels just like him".

Miss Drummond, who had previously had a series of meetings with Friel, said in the email, which was sent to a psychiatrist and supervisor: "He feels jealous of others and feels that no girls are interested in him. He wants to project his anger to the world."

She told the court that Friel mentioned he felt quite jealous of males that were able to have relationships with females and would quite like to have some female attention.

She said that during the meeting Friel expressed he could identify with Rodger but was not praising what he had done.

Miss Drummond told advocate depute Richard Goddard QC that she thought that Friel had said he had read his manifesto.

During an interview she told police officers that it sounded like he was getting excited talking about him and it was "as if he idolised him".

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Alexander Quinn told the court that he had a subsequent meeting with Friel when he showed him he had bought body armour and had been shopping on Google for a crossbow. He said: "I was worried that somebody might come to harm."

Dr Quinn said he had made a note from the meeting with Friel of him wanting to cause a mass shooting but that it was hard as things could go wrong.

Following discussions, police said they were going to come to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital to detain Friel.

Edinburgh College attack

The court also heard about an incident in November 2017 when Friel, then a student at Edinburgh College, took a knife into college and sent a classmate messages suggesting he did not come in because “there will be an attack.” Police were then conacted.

PC Mark McNulty, 25, who was one of the police officers who responded to the college incident in 2017 said Friel was found in toilets.

He said he was asked to take his hands out a bag and pulled out an eight to ten inch kitchen knife and brandished it over his head.

PC McNulty and two colleagues grabbed him and he made stabbing motions during a struggle. One of his colleagues managed to get the knife but the other suffered a laceration to his shoulder.

Friel is facing two charges under the Terrorism Act and two charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

The first charge alleges that between June 1, 2019 and August 16, 2019, Friel possessed a crossbow, a scope, 15 crossbow bolts, a machete and a ballistic vest.

Prosecutors claim there was “reasonable suspicion” the possession was “for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of act of terrorism”.

Friel has pleaded not guilty to the charges he is facing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The trial, before Judge Lord Beckett, continues.

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