A murder-obsessed teenager wanted to carry-out a mass shooting at his own Scots school, a court has heard.
The boy ‘idolised’ the killers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, who were responsible for the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in 1999. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of 12 students and a teacher.
He repeatedly spoke about doing the same at his own Edinburgh secondary describing the ‘Doomsday’ when he would ‘clear it out’.
In the summer of 2023, a significant police investigation was launched following a social media photo depicting the boy at school wearing full combat gear and carrying an imitation gun, causing fear and concern among students and parents.
The boy had already been referred to a UK-wide programmed designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
He also held racist and pro-Nazi views.
The now 17-year-old who cannot be named because of his age appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday.
He pleaded guilty – via his defence KC Shelagh McCall – to a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act.
Students run from Columbine High School run under cover from police during the mass shooting on April 20 1999 in Littleton, Colorado
Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris opened fire at their suburban Denver school, killing 13 people and injuring a further 24 in the attack
At the time, Columbine was the deadliest shooting at a high school in US States history
The crimes spanned between June 2022 and July 2023.
The teen had his bail revoked by judge Lord Arthurson pending sentencing next month.
According to prosecutor Greg Farrell, on June 20, 2023, the boy arrived at school dressed in boots, cargo trousers, and equipped with a military tactical vest and helmet.
After an image of him was circulated on social media, police were contacted.
Officers discovered that the boy had a TikTok account with footage of him in black combat clothes as well as a skeleton mask and making a reference to school shootings.
Although the vest and the helmet turned out to be part of a costume for a film, the pupil was suspended and his peers told police ‘the boy had exhibited a variety of alarming behaviour over a period of time’.
Mr Farrell added: ‘The greatest concern was suggestion he had divulged to various people a desire to carry out a school shooting similar to that which had taken place in 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado in the USA.’
Classmates recalled how the boy ‘spoke excitedly and with considerable enthusiasm’ when he talked about Columbine and other school shootings.
He ‘sympathised’ with the pair behind it – Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris – and would copy how they had dressed.
Mr Farrell said: ‘In November 2022, he told her how he would go about carrying out a school attack.
‘He explained that he would start on the second floor and that he would “clear it out” using guns.
‘He would then move downstairs continuing to shoot until police arrived, at which point he would turn the gun on himself.’
The boy described a possible mass shooting involving trip wires and pipe bombs at his school as ‘Doomsday’ saying it would happen on April Fool’s Day or his last day of sixth year.
He was stopped by police under the Terrorism Act as he returned from holiday with his family on July 9, 2023.
A number of his electronic devices were seized. There were various files on a mobile phone including ones about ‘homemade’ firearms and poisons.
The court heard he had 65 videos of Columbine and had added music which appeared to ‘glamorise’ the mass killing.
Police also seized a journal in which the boy had made various sinister remarks.
The hearing was told the boy had previously been referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme due to concerns raised by other pupils.
A visit at the family home with a terrorism officer appeared to ‘go well’ and that the boy ‘engaged’ with the police.
It was then decided at that time the involvement of Prevent would end.
However, the boy continued to openly discuss school shootings although no further action was taken.
The second referral was then made in June 2023 after the image of the boy in the combat gear at school was circulated online.
Defence advocate Miss McCall had asked the teenager to remain on bail pending sentencing.
She described the accused as ‘vulnerable’ with on-going issues.
But, Lord Arthurson did not continue bail. The boy instead is expected to be sent to a secure-unit for young people or what was described as a ‘place of safety’.
Sentencing was deferred for reports.
