The 17-year-old had planned to set fire to a Muslim centre in Greenock after befriending the Imam and mapping out the building’s interior on his phone.

He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday after pleading guilty to two charges of terrorism.

He admitted being in possession of documents likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and engaging in the preparation of committing acts of terrorism.

One charge includes two aggravations under Section 1 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office, said: “The offences committed by this individual were deeply disturbing.

“Viewing, sharing and posting such extreme and illegal material online can encourage and incite others into extremist activity, spreads hatred and poses a serious risk of harm to the public.

“This heinous plan to attack those within his own local community was prepared and driven by racial and religiously motivated hatred and showed that he not only held neo-Nazi beliefs but was about to act on them to cause pain and suffering.

“COPFS has a duty to keep the people of Scotland safe from harm and, working with police and other agencies, we are committed to ensuring that those involved in committing offences under terrorism legislation are brought to justice.”

The court heard how in 2022 the boy, who cannot be named due to his age, began formulating plans to carry out a terrorist attack, initially targeting his school.

He started writing a personal manifesto on his mobile phone from November 2022. Split into chapters, the notes outlined his political beliefs and contained anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

In mid-December 2024, he planned an attack on the Inverclyde Muslim Centre in Greenock involving the use of aerosols and lighters to set fire to the premises. He shared his plans on social media platform Telegram.

To infiltrate the property, he joined the centre’s WhatsApp group saying he was “looking for guidance” and secured the trust of the Imam during several visits. He filmed himself wandering the corridors of the building. Footage from one video showed him superimposing a hand carrying a semi-automatic pistol.

When the image moved over a religious poster, the accused used an effect that made it appear to be set on fire.

By January 2025 an attack on the centre had become his sole focus and he contacted a local rifle club over how to obtain a firearm. On January 23, police officers apprehended the youth, who was carrying a camouflage military style rucksack, as he tried to gain entry to the building on Laird Street.

Inside the bag they found a German-manufactured Glock-type air pistol, ammunition, ball bearings, gas cartridges and aerosol cans. A subsequent search of his home revealed Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, a copy of the Quran, airsoft weapons, knives, masks and instructions and ingredients to manufacture explosives.

He also had a list on his mobile phone of individuals who had inspired his political beliefs including Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik.

Assistant chief constable Stuart Houston, of Police Scotland, said: “I want to pay tribute to the local officers who took swift action to protect the public and apprehended the youth, as the potential consequences of his actions could have been extremely serious and had a profound effect on the local community.

“This was a fast moving and complicated inquiry and officers carried out a diligent and thorough investigation to gather the evidence and brought him to court, which will now see him face the consequences of his intentions.

“Keeping our communities safe from acts of terrorism remains a priority for Police Scotland and its officers. I also want to express my gratitude to the partners who worked with us during this inquiry to ensure the achievement of this objective is realised.

“Anyone who has concerns about potential terrorist activity is urged to contact Police Scotland, and there is confidential advice available at the ACT Early Counter Terrorism Policing website.”