An 18-year-old from south Wales has been sentenced after authorities uncovered disturbing online behaviour linked to violent fantasies and extremist material, including messages about attacking a major music event.
McKenzie Morgan, from Cwmbran in Torfaen, became fixated on the crimes of Axel Rudakubana, repeatedly expressing a desire to copy his actions. Prosecutors said the teenager even discussed targeting children and a high-profile concert, with investigators later confirming that A teenager fixated on the Southport killer was plotting a bomb attack at an Oasis concert.
Copycat Fantasies and Online Radicalisation
According to court proceedings, Morgan spoke openly about wanting to carry out a “Rudakubana-style” attack. He researched violent incidents, saved images of Rudakubana on his phone, and claimed he was attempting to produce ricin, a highly dangerous toxin. In messages to friends, he shared images of large knives and asked whether they would be suitable for an attack.
Police first arrested Morgan on 2 June 2025 after a member of the public alerted them to alarming Snapchat posts. Although he was released on bail, officers seized his phone and discovered multiple banned al-Qaeda documents, including a training manual that gave instructions on knife attacks.
The Oasis Concert Messages
Investigators also found messages in which Morgan discussed attacking the first reunion concert by Oasis in Cardiff on 4 July. While prosecutors stressed there was no evidence of a viable plot, they said the conversations showed an alarming level of fixation and violent intent.
A note saved on Morgan’s phone, titled “places to attack,” contained images and directions to a local dance school near his home. Location data suggested he had visited the area shortly before his arrest. He also researched other potential targets, including his former school and a children’s playground.
Court Findings and Sentence
Morgan was rearrested on 19 June 2025 and later appeared at the Old Bailey, where he admitted possessing information likely to be useful for terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The charge related solely to possession of extremist material, not to planning or attempting an attack.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse told the court there was no clear evidence that Morgan held a political, religious, or racial ideology. Instead, she said his motivation appeared to be an unhealthy obsession with Rudakubana’s violence. The judge described him as vulnerable, at risk of grooming and radicalisation, and a danger both to himself and potentially to others.
Morgan was sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders’ institution, followed by a year on licence. He was also given a criminal behaviour order banning him from places where children gather, along with strict conditions on his internet use. Police will monitor his address details for the next decade.
A Case of Vulnerability, Not Ideology
Prosecutors acknowledged that Morgan had no history of violence and no proven links to banned organisations such as Islamic State or National Action. Mental health professionals told the court he had been bullied, struggled with suicidal thoughts, and was considered high risk to himself.
After sentencing, Counter Terrorism Policing Wales said the case highlighted how vulnerable teenagers can be drawn into dangerous online spaces. Officials stressed that while no real attack was imminent, the possession of terrorist material and repeated violent fantasies justified prosecution.
The Crown Prosecution Service reiterated that the conviction was about preventing harm before it happens. “This was a young person fantasising about violence and seeking attention online,” a spokesperson said, adding that the case underscored the importance of intervening early when extremist material is involved.
