An investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command led to the conviction of a man who was encouraging others to carry out violent attacks in response to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patrick Ruane, 55, of west London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday, 13 September, of two counts of encouragement of terrorism.
Acting Commander Gareth Rees, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Our investigation found large numbers of posts by Ruane where he was encouraging others to carry out extremely violent acts, all because he didn’t like the government’s response to the pandemic. This wasn’t idle chit-chat online – he was encouraging people to seriously injure or kill others, suggesting who to target.
“This case should serve as a warning that if you’re encouraging people to commit acts of terrorism, then we will investigate. Where we find evidence of this, then there are very serious consequences, something that Ruane is now facing.”
Bethan David, Head of Counter Terrorism Division at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This is a dangerous man who was prolific in encouraging violence because of his firmly held beliefs in a conspiracy theory.
“During a time when the nation was suffering a devastating pandemic, and many lost loved ones, Patrick Ruane was using Telegram to spread false and damaging information and encourage violence and terrorism.
“He posed a credible threat to the peace and safety of the public, and it is only right that he has been found guilty. The CPS will always seek to prosecute such appalling criminal behaviour, whether in person or online, to keep the public safe.”
In 2021, detectives became concerned over a series of extremist posts on social media, which they linked to Ruane.
Officers arrested Ruane in November 2021 at his flat in west London, where they also seized a number of electronic devices. Specialist officers analysed the various devices and found that Ruane had posted in various groups that were against the government policies in relation to COVID-19 and the vaccination rollout.
Officers identified that amongst his posts were a large number of messages where Ruane had actively encouraged people to commit acts of violence due to his dislike of the government’s policies.
Detectives found posts where he was encouraging others to target staff linked to pharmaceutical companies producing the COVID-19 vaccinations. Ruane also posted about targeting MPs and police, as well as bombing vaccine laboratories and 5G infrastructure.
In reviewing Ruane’s messages, officers identified and evidenced more than 370 posts demonstrating Ruane’s extremist views over ten months between January and November 2021.
The investigation continued while Ruane was released on bail, and he was charged in August 2023 with two counts of encouragement of terrorism (contrary to Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006) and one count of possessing a document useful for terrorism (contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000).
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty in respect of the two counts of encouragement of terrorism and was found not guilty in relation to the possession of a document useful for terrorism. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 8 November.
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