Lorry driver made guns and prepared for a 'race war'

"Thomas McKenna, 60, converted the weapons using a lathe and drill inside one of three caravans at a large traveller site in Buckles Lane, South Ockendon, Essex, Kingston Crown Court was told. Prosecutors said McKenna distributed the guns to a criminal network and sent messages urging others to "get yourself ready" and warning that "the time for protesting is over". The court heard the network included Faisal Razzaq, who was the getaway driver in the fatal shooting of PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005."

"Prosecutor Emily Dummett told the court on the first day of sentencing that McKenna sent messages discussing plans to "kill", "shoot", "unalive" and "neutralise" Muslims and immigrants "before they are too many". McKenna ran his gun conversion unit with a lathe and a drill, from one of three caravans he had at a large traveller site in Buckles Lane, South Ockendon, Essex. He sent his partner, Tina Smith, 55, links to videos which showed how to make explosives. The couple and eight others have been convicted for their involvement in a firearms conspiracy, with linked guns found across London and the South East."

Thomas McKenna, 60, converted blank-firing weapons into lethal pistols using a lathe and drill inside one of three caravans at a large traveller site in Buckles Lane, South Ockendon, Essex. He distributed guns to a criminal network that included a participant linked to a 2005 fatal shooting. McKenna sent messages urging preparation for a "race war" and used violent language targeting Muslims and immigrants. He made improvised explosives containing black powder and shrapnel and shared bomb-making videos with his partner, Tina Smith. Police raids in November 2024 recovered loaded guns, improvised explosive devices, replica weapons, ammunition, crossbows and documents including a handbook titled Poor Man's James Bond. McKenna, his partner, and eight others were convicted in a firearms conspiracy with linked weapons found across London and the South East.

Read at www.bbc.com