A dangerous right-wing terrorist from Somerset who shared instructions on how to make a bomb online has been jailed. Gabriel Budasz, of Drove Road, Weston-Super-Mare, spread racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic statements, used Nazi props in content he posted online, and stirred up extreme and dangerous ideologies.
In August 2023, Budasz’s home was searched and numerous items of an extreme right wing nature were found, including books, masks and memorabilia, along with a 3D printed gun and Budasz’s mobile phone and computer. Examining the devices, officers found that the 24-year-old sent a video guide containing instructions on making a bomb with household ingredients electronically on Telegram.
On December 11, 2022, he sent messages of a grossly offensive nature and published statements online which encouraged terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing said. Budasz already pleaded guilty during a hearing at the Old Bailey on December 22, 2023 to six counts of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The defendant claimed the online content was ‘comedy’ and tried to hide his true identity by using props, including Nazi paraphernalia while making some of his most offensive remarks. However, when it came to trial the jury found him guilty.
Following a trial at Winchester Crown Court, which concluded on 8 August, Budasz was additionally found guilty of:
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Four counts of encouraging terrorism contrary to section 1(2) of the Terrorism Act 2006;
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One count of dissemination of a terrorist publication contrary to section 2(1) and 2(2)(e) Terrorism Act 2006;
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One count of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with three years on licence.
Head of CTPSE, Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, said: “Budasz spread hateful content online including racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic statements. He would have known how harmful spreading his extreme right-wing views would be.
“A video he sent online contained step-by-step instructions on how to make a viable bomb with readily available household items and had been extracted by Budasz from a longer video found online showing the mutilation and torture of a person.
“He had also used a 3D printer to print parts of a 3D gun and had been having conversations about how a viable gun could be manufactured.
“Budasz tried to explain away the material he posted online by claiming that it was ‘comedy’. He attempted to hide his true identity with the use of props, including Nazi and other extreme right-wing paraphernalia. He did this while he made some of his most harmful and offensive statements; however the jury saw through this defence and instead convicted him of serious terrorism offences.
“The kind of content Budasz made available online stirs up dangerous and extreme right-wing ideologies among those who access it, with all sorts of harm to communities in this country. His sentencing will now prevent him from spreading this hate online, and we will continue our work to deal with others who would do the same.”