By David Young-
A man from Brighton in the Uk has been jailed for at least 16 years after admitting he was plotting a shooting at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park.
Edward Little,(pictured) a 22-year-old man from Brighton, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 16 years, for planning to kill a Christian preacher at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. The sentencing took place today at the Central Criminal Court.
Little’s sinister intentions were brought to light following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE). The police arrested Little on September 23, 2022, as he was en route from his home in Brighton to London to purchase a firearm for the planned attack.
The maniac had planned to buy a gun and use it to kill a Christian preacher and her camera crew at the central London venue, as well as soldiers and police.
He had looked up different weapons and their capabilities and arranged to buy one for £5,000. He was on his way into London in a taxi with thousands of pounds in cash when he was stopped and arrested on 23 September, last year.
Officers found £5,000 in cash, which he intended to use to buy the weapon. Little had meticulously researched the location, his intended target, and had made arrangements to acquire a firearm, raising serious concerns about the potential for loss of life.
An examination of Little’s digital devices revealed disturbing details about his extremist views. Between July 27 and August 7, 2022, he downloaded extremist Islamic material, and on the day before his arrest, he viewed YouTube videos primarily focused on firearms and Jihad.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Little held multiple social media accounts across various platforms using false names, including Telegram, Theema, Instagram, and Snapchat. This revealed a calculated effort to conceal his activities and intentions.
Furthermore, on September 28, 2022, while being interviewed, Little physically attacked a police officer, pleading guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. For this separate offense, he was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.
Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, Head of CTPSE, commended the officers for their decisive action in apprehending Little. He stated, “I have no doubt that lives were saved by the actions of those officers who were deployed to arrest him. These officers put themselves in harm’s way on that day in order to protect the public from the threat Little posed.”
Little’s plan was reportedly in its final stages, and had it not been for his arrest, the potential for a deadly attack loomed large.
Threema Conversations and Alarming Statements:
In additional details that emerged during the investigation, it was revealed that in conversations on Threema, Little referred to the preacher—known for debates on the Koran in Hyde Park—as an “evil witch.” He expressed intentions to shoot her “point blank” and harm everyone around her.
Little’s threats were not limited to the preacher alone. He indicated having a “brother in prison” who might join in the plot. Disturbingly, he even considered Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral as an alternative target, though he later ruled it out.
Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, emphasized the gravity of Little’s actions, stating: “There can be little doubt as to what Edward Little’s intentions were on that day. The sentence today reflects the seriousness of this offending, and the CPS remains firmly committed to prosecuting all forms of terrorism in England and Wales.”