Daniel Harris: British teen extremist whose videos have been linked to two US mass murders | UK News

A British teenage extremist has been jailed over far-right videos linked to two mass murders in the US.

Daniel Harris used an online platform called World Truth Videos to spread his “call to arms” of violent racist beliefs, a court heard.

The 19-year-old, from Glossop, Derbyshire, was found guilty of five counts of encouraging terrorism and one count of possessing a 3D printer for terrorist purposes after a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

He was sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison and a three-year licence.

prosecutor said American Murderer Peyton Chandron Harris “encouraged and to some extent motivated him to do what he did”.

Gendron was murdered 10 blacks During the May 2022 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, the attack was live-streamed. Within hours, Harris produced a video celebrating the killing spree.

Gendron, 19, commented on a video of Harris two months before the mass shooting, saying, “You’re not alone my friend :)”.

FILE - Payton Gendron is brought into a court hearing Thursday, May 19, 2022 in Erie County Courthouse in Buffalo, N.Y.  Gendron, who massacred 10 black shoppers and workers at a Buffalo supermarket, pleaded guilty to murder and hate crimes - motivated terrorism charges.  Payton Gendron pleaded Monday in Erie County court. The charges carry an automatic life sentence.  (AP Photo/Matt Locke, file)
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Payton Gendron kills 10 in New York mass shooting

The video includes lessons learned from Brenton Tarrant, who live-streamed an attack in which he 51 people were killed in the mosque March 2019 in New Zealand.

Gendron also took an image from another Harris video and used it as the main image for his “manifesto.”

Prosecutor Joe Allman said Gendron was “inspired” by Harris’ material.

The British teenager also influenced Anderson Lee Aldridge, the only suspect in a case. Filmed at a gay bar in Colorado, the court was told.

Colorado Club Q shooting suspect Anderson Lee Aldridge
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Anderson Lee Aldridge accused of killing 5 in Colorado shooting

Aldridge, 22, allegedly killed five people in an indiscriminate gun attack in Colorado Springs last November while Harris was on trial in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Allman said Aldridge – who has yet to make a request about the Colorado shooting – “had access to material produced by Harris”.

Prosecutors told the court that a video of Harris was posted on a “brother site” that linked to what appeared to be a live feed of Aldridge preparing to carry out the attack.

“Officials say this suggests that individuals of most interest have accessed material produced by Mr Harris,” Mr Allman said.

Image from the scene of a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.Photo: Associated Press
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Scenes after the Buffalo shooting.Photo: Associated Press

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Harris was described in court as an “influential online propagandist of violent and deeply racist ideologies”.

His video, which glorifies mass killings, “is nothing short of a call to arms to those who share, or might be persuaded to share, Mr. Harris’ worldview,” Mr. Allman said.

The court heard that Harris’ video, which he used under the pseudonym “BookAnon”, “encourages and directs acts of terror against those who are not considered white Europeans”.

A video showed how to use a 3D printer to make an assault rifle, and when police raided Harris’ grandfather’s house, they found he had started making the parts himself.

Daniel Harris 3D Printing Favor
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3D printed gun parts created by Harris

“Toxic rhetoric with far-reaching consequences”

Following the teenager’s conviction, Detective Inspector Chris Brett said an initial attempt was made to approach Harris through the prevention program, which aims to stop people from becoming terrorists.

Mr Brett added: “It quickly became clear that he was feigning deradicalization while encouraging terrorism online.”

“The threat he poses means we must act to ensure the safety of the wider public.”

Mr Brett said Harris had “clearly displayed contempt for law enforcement and public order, and admiration for those who have committed atrocities in terrorist attacks overseas”.

“By posting these videos online, Harris’ toxic remarks could have an incalculable impact on countless people around the world — behavior like this will not be tolerated,” the senior official said.

He added that during the search, officers “discovered a chilling discovery that someone had attempted to print parts of the firearm with his 3D printer,” which “demonstrated a clear intent to create a deadly weapon.”

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