Ex-Soldier Found Guilty Over Bookshop Terror Plot Ex-Brit Soldier Found Guilty Over Terror Plot to Torch Nottingham Bookshop
William Howitt, a former British Army man, has been convicted for planning a terror attack targeting a Nottingham bookshop.
Jury Quick to Convict Over Detailed Arson Plot
The 27-year-old, from West Bridgford, Nottingham, meticulously mapped out an arson attack on an independent bookstore in Nottingham city centre. Police seized his phone at East Midlands Airport on 5 January 2023, uncovering a damning “Plan A” outlining his scheme.
Investigators from Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands (CTPEM) found extremist material on Howitt’s device, including anti-Semitic, anti-Marxist, and pro-Nazi messages he had sent since 2020.
Military Know-How Used in Terror Plan
Howitt’s plan detailed how he would set fire to the shop and escape undetected, using his former military training. Shortly after drafting the plan on 7 September 2020, he bought tools for the attack online. Police later found a glass hammer and tarpaulin at his home.
Howitt claimed he was drunk and on drugs when writing the plan, insisting his extremist messages were for show, not genuine beliefs. The jury disagreed, convicting him within two-and-a-half hours after a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Police and Bookshop Respond
“Howitt is a dangerous individual whose attack would have terrorised those with different views. He embraced extreme right-wing ideology to appear ‘tough,’ but his plan threatened lives,” said Detective Inspector Chris Brett of CTPEM.
A spokesperson for the targeted bookshop added: “Howitt may have planned to damage us, but he only destroyed his own life. His fire could have spread, risking hundreds of jobs and firefighter lives. Thankfully, police stopped him in time.”
Sentencing and Warnings
Howitt will be sentenced on 14 December 2023 at Birmingham Crown Court.
Superintendent Steve Riley, head of CTPEM, praised the regional police effort and urged the public to report anyone developing radical views early. “Your tip could stop an attack before it happens,” he said.
If you suspect someone is veering towards extremism, report in confidence via Action Counters Terrorism.
