IED event in Essex, South Ockendon area, United Kingdom on Wed 6th November 2024

Lorry driver who stockpiled guns and bombs for race 'war' jailed for 16 years 

Police seized loaded guns, a replica AK-47 assault rifle, explosives and a replica Sten submachine gun from Thomas McKenna's caravan in Essex.

A lorry driver who wanted to start a race "war" has been sentenced to 16 years in jail after stockpiling weapons and explosives on a caravan site in Essex.

Kingston Crown Court heard Thomas McKenna, 60, ran a workshop from his caravan converting blank-firing guns into deadly pistols to sell to criminals.

He had also been making explosives with his partner, bus driver Tina Smith, 55, in their caravan in South Ockenden, creating makeshift grenades as he prepared to launch attacks on Muslim immigrants.

Eight others have already been convicted of selling or possessing blank firearms that had been converted by McKenna. He and his partner were among four people sentenced at Kingston Court Court on Thursday.

When police raided the site in November 2024, they found loaded guns, homemade bombs and explosive materials, and another caravan equipped with a lathe, drills and welding equipment.

Officers also seized a 22-inch shotgun disguised as a torch, a hunting knife, throwing axes and a replica AK-47 assault rifle.

Scotland Yard detectives say McKenna's enterprise played an important role in the supply of guns in the capital.

The court previously heard he distributed weapons to a criminal network, which included Faisal Razzaq, the getaway driver involved in the fatal shooting of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, who was attacked as she attended an armed robbery in Bradford in 2005.

Prosecutor Emily Dummett said McKenna wrote messages about plans to "kill", "shoot", "unalive" and "neutralise" Muslims and immigrants "before they are too many".

The court heard details of other private messages shared with associates about his preparations for a "war".

In January 2024, he wrote: "We must go [to] war and win, brother".

Less than two weeks later posted: "We need to start killing them bro and now."

Other buyers of McKenna's converted guns include Allan Crosby, 44, of Etfield Grove, Sidcup, and Ryan Smith, 44, of Morants Court Road, Dunton Green in Kent. Both were convicted of possessing firearms.

McKenna pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms and ammunition, while Smith admitted possession of a prohibited firearm.

Both also admitted making explosives and possessing documents and videos useful for terrorism, but denied they were planning a terrorist attack.

Tina Smith received a seven-year sentence, with six to be served in custody.

Crosby, who was also convicted of possessing class A substances with intent to supply, was jailed for 10 years, while Smith was sentenced to seven and a half years.

Six reactivated blank-firing guns linked to McKenna have been recovered, but prosecutors believe he created more.