Far-right extremist convicted of terrorism offences

Gabriel Budasz was convicted at Winchester Crown Court

A far-right extremist has been convicted of terrorism offences after he shared videos online related to the making of explosives.

Police seized books, masks and memorabilia of an extreme right-wing nature, as well as a 3D-printed firearm, from Gabriel Budasz's accommodation in August 2023.

The 24-year-old, of Drove Road in Weston-Super-Mare, was found guilty of various terror offences at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday.

Police said content shared by Budasz online was "incredibly dangerous to those vulnerable to radicalisation".

After a search warrant was executed at Budasz's house, he was asked to turn off his computer with his leg while he was handcuffed, but he refused.

Prosecutors seized Budasz's mobile and computer devices and found he used a number of social media sites under different usernames to post extreme right-wing material.

'A warning'

Det Ch Supt Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), said: "The material contained his extreme right-wing views encouraging violence to further the hateful ideology which he espoused.

“Making this kind of content available online spreads and encourages terrorist ideology and is incredibly dangerous to those vulnerable to radicalisation.

"Unfortunately, the harm that can be caused by those who seek to provoke violence online to further their cause has been only too evident across the country in recent weeks."

He added that the case should "serve as a warning" that police would "take robust action against those who commit these serious and harmful offences".

Budasz was found guilty of one count of dissemination of a terrorist publication, four counts of encouraging terrorism and one count of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

He had previously pleaded guilty to six counts of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism at a previous hearing at the Old Bailey on 22 December 2023.

Budasz will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 25 October.