Man planned to set up militant pro-Palestinian group to ‘attack police and British Army’

A Scots supermarket worker penned plans to set up a militant pro-Palestinian group and to “launch attacks” on the police and British army, a court heard.

Sean Grant was caught after officers were called to his home in East Lothian on an unrelated matter in August 2025.

The 22-year-old was a member of the Communist Party of Britain as well as the left-wing organisation’s youth wing.

A number of publications and documents were seized from the flat in Musselburgh, leading to him being charged under the Terrorism Act.

Grant has now admitted his guilt during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.

He faces a lengthy jail term when he is sentenced next month.

Police had turned up at Grant’s home on August 19, 2025, after his partner dialled 999 amid concerns about him following a call between the pair.

He was described as “visibly upset” when officers arrived.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell KC said: “Police observed handwritten notes strewn across the bathroom floor as well as empty beer bottles.”

Grant – who worked in a local Lidl store at the time – was arrested that night.

Police went on to find a number of documents at his home.

In a notebook, there were at least 50 pages of Grant’s handwritten plans for a “new pro-Palestinian militant organisation” using a “cell structure”.

He referred to an “inspiration reading list” of several terrorist publications.

The pad also warned others not to “keep maps or notes at home’ as well as there being mention of “weapons for street fighting” such as petrol bombs.

Grant referred to “phase 3” of the plan to “launch a campaign of attacks” on “police targets”, what was described as the “intelligence infrastructure” and British army recruitment centres.

This was said in connection with police “repression” against the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, the intelligence co-operation with Israel and the “training” of the country’s defence force officers.

Also in Grant’s home was a booklet titled “The Red Army Faction’s Urban Guerrilla Concept”.

Mr Farrell said: “This is described as a strategy of radical left-wing terrorism which focused on conducting armed resistance in cities viewed as the ‘frontlines of Western fascist capitalism’.

The Red Army Faction was initially a militant group active in then-West Germany from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Also found was part of a copy of the IRA’s “Green Book”.

Mr Farrell added: “This was distributed to all IRA volunteers as a political handbook that represented the official views of the group and its strategy for guerrilla warfare against the British.”

Another document was called “A Practical Security Handbook” – the court heard this had details to “help anarchists and other rebels” in analysing their “security needs, plan and carry out direct action” as well as “detect or evade physical surveillance”.

The prosecutor said: “This publication contains information of a much more practical nature.

“For example, there are sections relating to CCTV, evidence gathering, as well as disposing of equipment and clothing.”

A further item discussed “militant actions”, including tips on being “digitally and forensically aware”.

There was also a hand-drawn image of a so-called aerosol grenade with two pages of notes written by Grant.

These featured “instructions” for the explosive device.

The notes also remark on the “lies of the Zionist entity”. He also referred to the Palestine Action Network as being “a non-violent direct action group”.

Grant stated: “The British state seems intent on completely blurring the lines between non-violent and violent acts.

“We are more than happy to oblige them.

“If smashing a window or having a sign will result in you being treated, legally speaking, the way a person who targets British soldiers with roadside IEDs, would you not rather go down dealing the largest possible blow to Israel and its collaborators?”

Grant told police he had been a member of The Communist Party since 2022 and had re-joined the youth wing in May 2025.

He said any material found was “reflective of his own political opinions”.

Mr Farrell said: “Grant disclosed he was involved in the set-up of a pro-Palestinian and pro-Kurdish group to start ‘direct resistance’.

“He called the first group ‘Combat227’, but neither materialised.”

Grant agreed the IRA “Green Book” was “terrorist literature”. He did condemn the republican organisation and insisted he had an “interest” only.

He further stated that he planned to “plead guilty to all charges” and did not want to be freed from custody as he felt he could not “integrate safely into society”.

While then on remand, Grant wrote to his partner, insisting any terror offence “solely involved” himself and “nobody else”.

He said “in any other situation” he would have fought the charges “tooth and nail”, but added he had “no interest in defending my character”.

Grant urged his partner to take his home as well as burn, donate or sell his clothes.

He further stated: “I have forfeited any right I have to possessions and the like. This sentiment applies also to the library and all of its contents.”

The charge Grant pled guilty to stated he had a “document or record” which contained information “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

An allegation that he had handwritten notes of names and photos of “individuals” believed to be “connected to right-wing or fascist groups” was deleted by prosecutors.

John Scullion KC, defending, gave no further background on Grant at the hearing.

Lord Arthurson continued Grant’s remand in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports