Man who told police he made a pact with the devil' jailed over extreme material

"Counter terrorism police stopped Declan George-Candiani, 26, at Stansted Airport in August 2024. His devices were seized and on them officers found terrorist-related documents including guides on how to commit dangerous attacks involving extreme violence. In a police interview, George-Candiani, of Streatham, told officers that he started to access the material after he developed an interest in an extreme-right wing group advocating traditional Satanism."

"George-Candiani had been carrying horrific material about acts of extreme violence. This is another example of why schedule 7' powers at our ports and borders are so important in helping us to identify potential terrorist activity, Commander Murphy said. In this case, analysis of digital devices revealed downloads of horrific material promoted by extreme right-wing terrorist groups, as well as extremely dangerous material about carrying out attacks and other acts of extreme violence."

"Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was convicted on 3 October of two counts of collection of material likely to be of use to a terrorist under 58(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000. The jury found him not guilty of two further counts of the same offence. On 28 November he was sentenced to 23 months behind bars."

Counter-terrorism police stopped Declan George-Candiani at Stansted Airport in August 2024 and seized his devices, which contained terrorist-related documents and guides on carrying out dangerous, violent attacks. In a police interview he said he began accessing the material after developing an interest in an extreme-right wing group advocating traditional Satanism and claimed a possessed mindset and a pact with the devil. Prosecutors said he intentionally accessed and downloaded extreme right-wing material due to extremist interest. Following conviction on two counts under section 58(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

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