East London Man Jailed for Spreading White Supremacy Online
Anthony Barraclough from east London has been sentenced to six years behind bars for bombarding the internet with racist hate speech and terrorist propaganda.
Hate Posts Discovered by Counter-Terrorism Police
Between November 2020 and February 2021, Barraclough posted vile content targeting ethnic minorities. His uploads included white supremacist texts, calls for terrorist violence, and videos of Black people being racially abused—with mentions of George Floyd in one clip.
The Met’s Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) swiftly unlocked the dark side of his online activity, confirming some posts broke terrorism laws. After a thorough probe, officers swooped on January 25, 2021, arresting Barraclough. They found a black “Celtic Cross” flag at his home, a known symbol among European neo-Nazis.
Guilty Plea and Heavy Sentence
On May 6, 2022, Barraclough admitted to multiple offences at Kingston Crown Court:
- Three counts of disseminating a terrorist publication under the Terrorism Act 2006
- Six counts of distributing materials to incite racial hatred under the Public Order Act 1986
- One count of distributing a recording intended to stir racial hatred
On June 10, the judge sentenced him to six years in prison.
Police Warn: Online Hate Is Dangerous
“Barraclough posted appalling racist material online, aiming to spread his extremist hatred of Black people,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Dominic Murphy of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
“This toxic online activity isn’t harmless talk; it often sparks real-world harm. Officers acted fast to unearth the evidence and bring him to justice.”
Spot Hate Online? Report It
Following his arrest, the 40-year-old faced charges on October 13, 2021, and had his first court appearance at Westminster Magistrates on November 12, 2021.
If you come across extremist messages online, report them anonymously at www.gov.uk/report-terrorism or via the iREPORTit app.
The CTIRU, part of the Counter-Terrorism Policing Network, is the frontline force investigating and removing terror-related internet content.
