Gabrielle Friel: Crossbow and machete shown to jury during terrorism trial in Edinburgh

A crossbow recovered by police during investigations into a man accused of planning terror attacks was capable of killing someone, a court has heard.

Gabrielle Friel is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh

Gabrielle Friel is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh accused of being in possession of a crossbow, 15 crossbow bolts, a machete and ballistic vest in Edinburgh last year.

The jury heard previously how the 22-year-old allegedly conducted online searches in relation to spree killings which were motivated or affiliated with Incels - involuntary celibates - and that he expressed a desire to “carry out a spree killing mass murder.”

On Wednesday, forensic scientist Khaldoun Kabbani told the court that a crossbow recovered by police during their investigation last year was capable of killing someone.

The High Court in Edinburgh.

The weapon was found along with 20 inch bolts with pointed steel tips and a telescopic sight. The company which sold the crossbow said it was "ideal for long range targets".

A machete kukri knife with a 12 inch blade was also recovered. A protective vest was also examined by Kabbani who said that it would not be considered bullet or stab proof in its current condition as metal plates had not been inserted into it.

The items were presented to the court during evidence.

‘Fixated’ on US spree killer

A social worker told the court on Tuesday that, after meeting Friel in August last year, he became “very fixated” on Elliot Rodger who killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in May 2014.

A forensic psychiatrist, Dr Alexander Quinn, who had a subsequent meeting with Friel, also told police he believed Friel felt jealous and rejected and an affiliation with Rodger.

In a statement, Dr Quinn said: “I asked him if he shared some of the ideals of Roger, in particular his attitude to hating women for not being interested in him sexually. He agreed at times he did."

The court also heard that, in 2017, Friel brought a knife into Edinburgh College where he was a student at the time. Former classmate, Jordan Wilson, gave evidence that Friel told him not to come into college that day because “there will be an attack.”

He told the court that he saw Friel outside the college carrying his backpack and asked for an explanation for the messages.

"He replied he had been bullied online, I think, and he was going to hold someone hostage in the cafeteria that day," said Mr Wilson.

"He showed me a kitchen knife he had in his bag," said the office worker.

Mr Wilson later told police that Friel said he was planning to attack the cafeteria with a knife he had brought.

Mr Wilson said he panicked and did not know how to react. Friel went to a toilet and he walked out the doors of the college and saw a classmate before returning to the building and police were contacted.

Police Constable Mark McNulty was one of the officers who responded. He told the court that Friel had pulled out a kitchen knife and, as he brandished it above his head, one of his colleagues suffered a laceration to his shoulder.

Following Friel’s arrest over this incident, he was an inpatient at the Orchard Clinic secure unit at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and was released into the community in June 2018

Defence solicitor advocate Brian Gilfedder asked Dr Quinn if during the meeting with Friel last year he was concerned that he might be facing a repeat of the college incident where by threatening to cause harm or actually causing harm to the public he would be shot by the authorities. Dr Quinn said: "That was my concern."

The psychiatrist said that during the interview with the former inpatient things were coming up that he was a risk with him talking about previous acts by other people and the purchase of equipment. Friel told him he bought body armour and had been shopping for a crossbow.

Terrorism charges

Friel is alleged to have committed two offences under terrorism legislation between June 1 and August 16 last year at the Grindlay Court Community Justice Social Centre, the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and at his home in Comely Bank Road and elsewhere in Edinburgh.

He is accused of possessing the crossbow, scope, 15 crossbow bolts, the machete and ballistic vest in circumstances giving rise to reasonable suspicion that his possession was for a purpose connected with "the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism".

It is also alleged that with the intention of committing acts of terrorism he conducted online research in an attempt to acquire a firearm, over spree killing mass murders and "in particular spree killing mass murders committed by individuals expressing motivation from or affiliation with 'incels' (involuntary celibates).”

It is further alleged that he did "express an affinity with and sympathy for one incel-motivated mass murderer and express a desire to carry out a spree killing mass murder.”

He is also accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner between July 12 and August 16 last year by purchasing the crossbow, scope, arrows and ballistic vest and storing them at the address in Comely Bank Road.

Friel is also accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on August 14 and 16 last year at the social work centre and at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital by expressing an intention to commit a terrorist attack.

Friel denies two charges of breaching the Terrorism Act and two charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

The trial, before Lord Beckett, continues.

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