England: Weapons‑making couple preparing for ‘race war’ jailed

Thomas McKenna, 60, and Tina Smith, 55, were convicted after trial of multiple firearms and explosives offences, including converting blank‑firing pistols into viable guns, manufacturing explosive powders and IEDs, possessing prohibited weapons and collecting terrorist information.

Digital communications showed McKenna describing plans for armed rebellion, while Smith expressed violently anti‑Muslim views and discussed “shooting them all” in messages to associates. A timeline demonstrated how their extremist beliefs intensified in the months before and after the 7 October Hamas attack.

Bethan David, head of counter terrorism at the CPS, said: “Thomas McKenna, supported by Tina Smith, converted and sold illegal weapons and ammunition to criminals as part of a dangerous and highly organised enterprise.

“There is no scenario in which they could have believed these weapons were destined for anything other than serious harm. It is only thanks to the work of our policing partners that these weapons have not been linked to fatal incidents.

“Both McKenna and Smith held extremist anti‑Muslim views. Their stockpiling of weapons and explosives was not simply criminal opportunism – it was fuelled by a belief in the inevitability of violent conflict.”