Racist Leeds man ran website ‘swamped’ by extreme right-wing supporters

He will be sentenced in July

A Leeds man has admitted starting a website that allowed users to share terrorist materials.

Colin McNeil, 46, of Beeston Road, admitted providing a service, in the form of an online website, that facilitated others to obtain terrorist publications and by doing so committed four dissemination offences, when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday.

Counter Terrorism Policing North East said that the website was deliberately unmoderated, and McNeil admitted in a police interview that he knew the site had been “swamped” by material supporting extreme right-wing ideologies. They said that when he became aware that terrorist publications were being distributed on the site, he continued to play an active role in its administration.

McNeil was first arrested in March 2022 and specialist high-tech investigators identified that he showed “admiration” for terrorist publications shared on his website – and also used it to share his own racist and extreme right-wing views.

A number of convicted international terrorists used the website to further their ideologies.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “There is simply no place for racism in our society. We will continue to seek out those that facilitate and distribute these harmful ideologies.

“I would urge the public to report any concerning online material that they come across to the national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) hosted by Counter Terrorism Policing. This unit contains specialist officers who assess online material to determine its nature and whether it breaches legislation, requires further investigation, or highlights any safeguarding concerns. If any extremist content is identified, then the unit takes steps to get it removed by the host website or platform.

“Removing harmful, violent and extremist content online is critical to our efforts to reduce the spread of terrorist material and propaganda.”

McNeil will be sentenced on July 5 at Sheffield Crown Court.

Leeds Live