Alfie Coleman, a 21-year-old man from England, is facing a substantial prison sentence after being convicted at the Old Bailey on 30 April 2026 of planning a terrorist attack motivated by extreme right-wing ideology. Coleman, who also pleaded guilty to twelve additional terror-related offences including attempting to obtain a prohibited firearm and 200 rounds of ammunition, was found to have compiled detailed plans for a mass attack driven by white supremacist beliefs.

Who Is Alfie Coleman?

Alfie Coleman was born on 18 June 2004, making him just 21 years old at the time of his conviction. He had been working in a retail shop and, during the course of his everyday life, was secretly radicalising himself online and engaging with extreme right-wing communities on encrypted messaging platforms. Coleman subscribed to white supremacist ideology and harboured deep hatred toward people of different races and religions, beliefs he eventually sought to act upon through mass violence.

From the outside, Coleman appeared to be an ordinary young man. In reality, investigators discovered a highly detailed plan to commit a terrorist attack, alongside extensive engagement with online forums dedicated to weapons trafficking, terrorism manuals, and extremist manifestos. Among the material found on his devices was content from Brenton Tarrant, who carried out the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand in 2019 — a figure frequently cited by far-right extremists as an inspiration.

What Did Alfie Coleman Do?

Coleman engaged in a sustained period of radicalisation and operational planning for a terrorist attack. He accessed online forums and encrypted messaging apps, where he shared extreme viewpoints, sought advice on sourcing illegal weapons, and began building toward an attack. Investigators found that Coleman had compiled a list of potential targets, including car registration numbers of people he had personally encountered through his workplace, whom he labelled as “race traitors.”

He attempted to purchase a prohibited firearm along with approximately 200 rounds of compatible ammunition, accessing European weapons trafficking networks online and seeking guidance on how to evade Border Force detection. He had also written up a previous plan for a terrorist attack in France. Notes and conversations recovered from encrypted messaging services revealed how Coleman progressed from ideology to concrete preparation — moving from sharing extremist views, to seeking operational advice, to actively sourcing weapons.

Alongside the main conviction for preparation of a terrorist act, Coleman had already pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a prohibited firearm, attempting to possess restricted ammunition, and ten counts of possession of documents for terrorist purposes. These documents included bomb-making manuals and guides to close-combat killing.

How Was He Caught?

Coleman came to the attention of counter-terrorism investigators through his activity on online forums and encrypted messaging services. Working under aliases, he sought to purchase weapons through criminal networks while discussing his plans in detail. Prosecutors built a comprehensive timeline of his activity, demonstrating his progression from online radicalisation through to active weapons procurement. Digital evidence, including messages, notes, and downloaded material, was central to the prosecution case.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division led the prosecution. Bethan David, Head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, stated that Coleman had taken “extraordinary measures to plan out his attack in detail” and was “motivated by an extreme ideology and hatred of people of other races and religions.” The investigation is understood to have involved specialist counter-terrorism officers working across multiple digital platforms.

Conviction and Sentencing

On 30 April 2026, Alfie Coleman was convicted at the Old Bailey of preparation of a terrorist act under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. This was in addition to the twelve offences to which he had already entered guilty pleas. He is due to be sentenced on 8 July 2026, where he faces a substantial custodial term. Given the gravity of the offences, which include terrorism preparation, attempted firearm acquisition, and possession of terrorism documents, the sentence is expected to be significant.

Coleman will be held on remand pending his sentencing hearing. Those convicted of serious terrorism offences in England and Wales are typically subject to extended licence conditions upon release, including notification requirements as a convicted terrorist offender. You can read more about what happens when someone is remanded in custody on our guide to booking a prison visit, or learn about the Parole Board process for serious offenders.

Right-Wing Terrorism in the UK

Right-wing terrorism represents one of the fastest-growing threats in the United Kingdom. Individuals like Coleman typically self-radicalise online, often consuming the same material as other international perpetrators of mass violence. The Terrorism Act 2006 and related legislation enable prosecution of those who are found to be preparing attacks, even where no attack has taken place. The possession of terrorism manuals and the attempted procurement of weapons are treated as serious criminal offences in their own right.

The UK government has proscribed a number of far-right organisations, and Counter Terrorism Policing and the Security Service maintain close surveillance of individuals known to hold extreme right-wing views. Cases like Coleman’s demonstrate the importance of early intervention, with charges brought at the preparation stage rather than after a catastrophe. For information about how the UK prison system handles terrorist offenders, including their management after release, our guide to sending money to a prisoner covers key aspects of the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Alfie Coleman in prison?

Alfie Coleman is in prison awaiting sentencing after being convicted on 30 April 2026 at the Old Bailey of planning a terrorist attack motivated by white supremacist ideology. He also pleaded guilty to twelve related offences including attempting to obtain a prohibited firearm and possessing terrorist documents.

What ideology did Alfie Coleman follow?

Alfie Coleman subscribed to extreme right-wing, white supremacist ideology. He accessed far-right extremist forums and messaging apps, shared content from the Christchurch attacker Brenton Tarrant, and compiled lists of people he regarded as enemies due to their race or background.

When will Alfie Coleman be sentenced?

Alfie Coleman is due to be sentenced on 8 July 2026 at the Old Bailey. Given the serious nature of the terrorism offences he has been convicted of, he is expected to receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

What charges did Alfie Coleman plead guilty to?

Coleman pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a prohibited firearm, attempting to possess restricted ammunition, and ten counts of possession of documents for terrorist purposes. These guilty pleas came before his trial, at which he was additionally convicted of the charge of preparation of a terrorist act.

How old is Alfie Coleman?

Alfie Coleman was born on 18 June 2004 and was 21 years old at the time of his conviction in April 2026. His case highlights the serious threat posed by young individuals who radicalise through online far-right extremist communities.