A COVID-19 denier was convicted of terrorism last week after encouraging a violent uprising against the government, the Metropolitan Police announced.
An investigation by Counterterrorism Policing London revealed that Paul Martin, a British national from Croydon, posted 16,000 messages calling for the use of crossbows and explosives on the Telegram group called "The Resistance UK."
Counterterrorism officers identified Martin as a particularly active member of the group, responsible for four percent of all messages in the group, which contains around 8,000 people.
The messages he sent exposed his belief that the Coronavirus was a ‘hoax’ and that the vaccine was "a poison designed to kill you off."
He continued to describe the situation as a "silent war" and urged group members to purchase a crossbow and make petrol bombs.
Martin was previously arrested four years ago
Martin was previously arrested at his home in September 2021, where police seized a stun gun disguised as a torch, two crossbows with bolts, a large knife, air guns, and drones.
He was found guilty of encouragement of terrorism after a two-week trial. He had previously pled guilty to possession of a weapon capable of discharging a noxious substance or other thing (stun gun).
“Martin’s actions went way beyond lawful comment or protest against government policy as he encouraged others online to acquire weapons and use them in attacks," said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of Counterterrorism Policing London. “Anyone who advocates violence in this way can expect to be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”