Two Individuals Sentenced After Plot to Destroy 5G Masts

• As individuals in the UK spend greater amounts of time online, and material related to issues widely considered as conspiratorial remain easily accessible, it is almost certain that misinformation will increasingly feature in the ideologies of terrorist actors seeking to conduct attacks in the UK.

• • Grayson had reportedly visited Telegram for the first time during COVID-19 lockdowns where she entered conversations critical of COVID-19 vaccines. Reynolds reportedly told the court that he had become interested in conspiracy theories after the 9/11 attacks by al-Qa’ida.[4]

• It is highly likely that a small number of individuals affiliated with misinformation would develop the intent to conduct terrorist attacks against property or people in the long term based on the misinformation of the theories they adhere to. These types of individual have previously demonstrated the intent to conduct terrorist attacks in the UK, for example:

• • January 2023 – An individual inspired in-part by COVID-19-related conspiracy theories was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for plotting a terror attack on phone, TV and radio masts across the UK. The individual planned to “topple the government” and believed that the COVID-19 vaccine would cause mass deaths and the breakdown of society.[5]

• It is almost certain that Reynolds’ terrorist intent was borne out of a range of ideologies that overlapped, converged – or even in some cases contradicted each other. It is almost certain that similar “salad-bar” terrorist actors, motivated by a range of ideologies, will continue to pose a threat to the UK in the long term.

• Issues related to major societal talking-points, such as, the environment, government, and technological advancement etc. will continue to contribute to the radicalisation of individuals from non-violent to violent ideological positions in the long term. This transition has been demonstrated in the aforementioned case in which one of the convicted individuals transitioned from peaceful means of action to plotting a violent act:

• • Media reporting suggests that Grayson began by collecting signatures to try and get a 5G mast removed from near her home. In June 2021, Grayson went on to discuss various ways to destroy 5G masts. On 20 June, Grayson asked Reynolds “can we do something like we said?…blow summit up”.[6]

• • On 19 July 2021, Reynolds reportedly posted on Telegram: “Protesting never solved anything. The only think that will work is the forced removal of all traitorous, paedophilic, deceitful, lying filth from government, civil, political, and judicial establishments”.

Intelligence Cut-Off Date: 14 June 2023