Brit in terror probe claimed he would 'make 9/11 look like episode of Teletubbies'

A man held in a terror probe claimed he would make the 9/11 attacks “look like an episode of the Teletubbies”.

Curtis Ross had a fascination with “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski – the lone wolf terrorist who killed three Americans and injured many others over nearly 20 years. Ross, 24, had been arrested after posting online a clip of himself blowing up two gas canisters near the River Leven in Methil, Fife.

His home was raided and policefound a drawing marked “Project Payback”. A phone and tablet device were also examined which included the voice message about the 2001 Twin Towers atrocity and him discussing with others “murdering all the people who wronged you”.

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Ross appeared in the dock last week at the High Court in Glasgow. He pled guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner which included sending the concerning messages and voice notes on Snapchat and Facebook, causing an explosion, filming it and putting the footage on social media between June 25 and July 31 last year.

He had a not guilty plea to a charge under the Terrorism Act accepted. Ross was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

A Facebook friend of Ross had spotted the explosion video in July last year. He showed it to a young woman who was so "alarmed" she contacted police. Ross was held that day after being spotted in Methil.

Detectives – along with Counter Terrorism officers – searched his home in the town. They found the “Project Payback” drawing along with a sketch of a “homemade explosive device”. Inside a desk were various items including a roll of wire, mobile phone batteries, nails, screws and a watch.

There were also initial fears about a package in the property which led to homes in the area being evacuated, but it did not contain an explosive.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell said Ross "laughed" when first quizzed about what he had filmed claiming it was an "attempt at satire comedy". But, he confirmed that he had blew up two butane gas canisters and had posted it on his Facebook page under the name of a Batman comic villain.

Mr Farrell: "He made reference to social media corrupting his decisions." Ross was asked about his interest in Kaczynski - captured in 1996 - and said he was "apparently some kind of mail bomber" that he had learned more about by going down a "rabbit hole" online.

Ross went on to insist that he himself was "not a terrorist" as he had "made peace with everything in his life".

Mr Farrell told the court of a Snapchat conversation with a friend. Ross stated at one stage: "I am going to make 9/11 look like an episode of the Teletubbies, f*** sake." He then backtracked again claiming it was "satire comedy" and that he was "only joking". The friend replied: "F*** Islam, f*** them all."

During further rants, Ross said he had been let down by the "justice system" complaining he had been treated differently because he is a man. In messages to another contact, he said: "I have realised that I simply cannot allow what is happening to humanity and our world to continue. I can and will have an impact on preventing the worst from happening xx."

The court heard there were also photos, videos and sketches of the "Unabomber" on the devices as well as images of a pipe bomb and firearms together with "various other clips which suggest violence". Lord Colbeck deferred sentencing for reports.