Extreme right-wing ideologist stopped at Stansted Airport jailed under Terrorism Act

A man who was stopped at Stansted Airport has been jailed for offences under the Terrorism Act.

Declan George-Candiani, 26, had downloaded “horrific” material promoted by extreme right-wing terrorist groups, including one which advocated “traditional Satanism”, the Old Bailey heard.

Detectives found terrorist-related documents on his devices, including guides on how to commit ‘lone wolf’ attacks and other acts of extreme violence.

George-Candiani, 26, of Streatham, south-west London, was stopped at Stansted by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) officers on August 13, 2024.

During the stop, the contents of his phone were analysed. As a result, he was arrested. A search of his home was carried out and an iPad was seized.

In police interview, George-Candiani claimed he had a “possessed mindset” and said he had made a “pact with the devil” to be a “minion”.

He claimed to officers that he had developed an “unhealthy obsession” with the ideology and that it had “overpowered” him in a way he “couldn’t control”.

However, it was the prosecution case that he had an interest in extreme right-wing ideology and that he intentionally accessed and downloaded extreme right-wing material.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was convicted on October 3 of two counts of collection of material likely to be of use to a terrorist under 58(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000. The jury found him not guilty of two further counts of the same offence.

He returned to the court for sentencing on Friday (November 28) and was given a 23-month prison term. The judge ordered he serve an additional year on licence and he will be subject to notification requirements for 10 years.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of CTP, which led the investigation, said: “This is another example of why ‘Schedule 7’ powers at our ports and borders are so important in helping us to identify potential terrorist activity.

“In this case, analysis of digital devices revealed downloads of horrific material promoted by extreme right-wing terrorist groups, as well as extremely dangerous material about carrying out attacks and other acts of extreme violence.”