Teen jailed for plotting to kill parents with bomb
A teenager has been jailed for plotting to blow up his parents because his mother disapproved of his girlfriend.
Gurtej Randhawa, 19, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he tried to buy explosives on the dark web in a crime that police say was not terror related.
Intelligence revealed he had attempted to buy a car bomb which he wanted to use to kill his parents, fearing they would interfere in his relationship.
According to police, he thought his parents would try to force him to end it, although it is not known why his mother disapproved of the girl.
Randhawa, of Wightwick, Wolverhampton, was arrested by armed officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) last May after he obtained what he believed to be an explosive device and attempted to test it.
The NCA said the package had been replaced with a "safe dummy device" before they allowed it to be delivered to the address he had provided when ordering the explosives.
In July, Randhawa pleaded guilty to attempting to import explosives and was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court in November.
It is not clear whether he had successfully ordered an explosive device on the dark web, or whether the person he believed he was buying the device from was an undercover officer or how police detected the sale, which typically would be through encrypted channels.
Tim Gregory from the NCA said: "The explosive device Randhawa sought to purchase online had the potential to cause serious damage and kill many people if he had been successful in using it.
"He was not involved in an organised crime group or linked to terrorism, but his actions show he is someone who poses a significant risk to the community.
"Identifying people like Randhawa – who seek to access illegal firearms and weapons – is a priority for the NCA and we will not stop in our efforts to make sure they are arrested and held accountable for their actions."
Andy Young, from the CPS, said: "Gurtej Randhawa attempted to purchase explosives which could have resulted in deaths or serious injuries had they been used.
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"He denied he planned to use the explosives to cause injury but the CPS demonstrated to the jury that this was a lie and Randhawa was observed attempting to test his device before being arrested.
"Randhawa had used the dark web in an attempt to avoid detection but instead he is now serving a significant prison sentence."
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