Gang who were planning to sell £5,000 gun to terrorist, 21, plotting to go on shooting rampage in Hyde Park are jailed for total of 36 years

• Trio admitted being party to plot but did not know what gun was intended for 

A gang who were planning to sell a £5,000 gun to a terrorist who was plotting a shooting rampage in central London’s Hyde Park have been jailed for a total of 36 years between them. 

The three members of the gang, Tyler King, 21, Caleb Wenyeve, 21, and Reis Forde, 27, were jailed at Inner London Crown Court for conspiring to provide Edward Little with a gun and ammunition which had been adapted into a viable lethal weapon, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said. 

The trio admitted being party to the plot, even though it was accepted that they did not know the gun was intended to be used in a terror attack, police said. 

King, of Denmark Hill was jailed for 10 years and nine months for conspiracy to transfer a prohibited firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm and three counts of possession of ammunition without lawful authority.  

Wenyeve, of Blidworth Close, Strelley in Nottingham, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to transfer a prohibited firearm along with Forde, who was jailed for 13 years and six months.

Reis Forde, 27,  has been jailed for 13 years and six months 

Tyler King, of Denmark Hill, was jailed for 10 years and nine months for conspiracy to transfer a prohibited firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm and three counts of possession of ammunition without lawful authority

Wenyeve, of Blidworth Close, Strelley in Nottingham, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to transfer a prohibited firearm

The trio were jailed for a total of 36 years between them at Inner London Crown Court

All three were cleared of conspiring to supply a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of CTPSE, said: ‘King, Wenyeve and Forde were working together to supply a viable firearm along with ammunition. 

READ MORE: Homegrown terrorist who converted to Islam in prison ‘plotted attack on the Queen’s funeral using an AK-47 and Mac-10 submachine gun to send a strong message’ but ran out of time to act, court hears 

Little considered a mass gun attack  (Court sketch of Little appearing at the Old Bailey last October)

‘Although they didn’t know Edward Little’s plan to commit a terrorist attack with the firearm, they entered into an agreement with Little to sell him a fully functioning gun and live ammunition.

‘They went a step further by sending a video of the working mechanisms of the weapon as proof to the buyer that it was a viable firearm.

‘This organised crime group was unravelled quickly. The case is a prime example of the skill of our teams in counter-terrorism Policing and our determination to disrupt and bring to justice criminals whose activity could facilitate terrorism or harm our national security.

‘All cases linked to terrorism will be vigorously pursued and brought before the courts.’

Little, 22, was travelling in a taxi from Brighton to London with £5,000 to buy the firearm and bullets from the gang when police swooped in on September 23 last year. 

His target was a Christian preacher – who often debates Islam and the Koran – at Speaker’s Corner. 

The Old Bailey previously heard that Little had spoken of his desire to acquire a gun in encrypted chats on the Threema messaging platform. 

The court previously heard that he had written: ‘I don’t think there has ever been an attack in the UK with guns so a semi-automatic rifle would send an even stronger message’. 

The court previously heard that Little, who converted to Islam while serving time in jail as a teenager, had considered launching a mass gun attack on the late Queen’s funeral. 

But, he decided he was ‘too late’ to act and instead opted to target the Christian preacher. 

In May, Little, of Pelham Street, Brighton, admitted preparing terrorist acts. 

He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on December 15.

Source: Read Full Article