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'Satanist' teenager jailed for terrorism offences

A teenager involved in a 'Satanist terror network' has been jailed for six years at the Central Criminal Court.

Cameron Finnigan pleaded guilty to encouraging suicide, possessing a terrorism manual, and indecent images of a child.

The 19-year-old was part of an extreme right-wing Satanist group called 764. The group blackmailed children into carrying out sexual acts, harming themselves or attempting suicide.

In October, Finnigan pleaded guilty to doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide, contrary to the Suicide Act 1961; possession of a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000; possession of indecent images of children, contrary to section 160(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988; relating to six category A images and one category A video file and two counts of criminal damage, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 in relation to damage to a vehicle and damage to a fence.

He pleaded not guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, contrary to section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, relating to his family鈥檚 cat.

The teenager was arrested in March 2024 following online posts. Officers seized his digital devices, which revealed that he was involved with a Satanic extremist group named 鈥�764鈥� which has a militant accelerationist (extreme right wing) ideology.

During a search of his property, officers found a large tapestry depicting the Satanic Beast or Baphomet goat head, a defaced Bible with red writing on referencing 764, a black notebook containing an assortment of statements, pentagrams and swastikas and red writing on the floor and door, referencing his Internet persona 鈥楢CID鈥�.

A telegram chat found on one of his devices showed communication with an individual believed to be a young female, whom Finnigan encouraged to die by suicide. He asked her to stream the suicide and told members of his chat group about it.

A PDF document was also found which included instructions on how to carry out truck attacks and knife and firearm mass casualty attacks.

Head of CTPSE, Detective Chief Superintendent Claire Finlay, said: 鈥淭his was a complex case interlinking terrorism and serious criminal offences. Finnigan claimed the statements he made online while a member of an extreme Satanic group were fantasy however it was apparent his actions had real world implications. He preyed on vulnerable people, some while they were in a state of crisis, and visited a tent where he stated he wanted to kill a homeless person in the name of the group.

鈥淔innigan鈥檚 wish to carry out a 鈥榯error week鈥� or 鈥榯error season鈥� and the terrorist document of which he was found in possession outlined how to carry out attacks and provided clear evidence of his extreme right wing terrorist ideology and mindset.

鈥淭he harm his actions caused cannot be underestimated.

鈥淚f you know of anyone who is viewing or posting extreme content online, please report this. This case is an example of Counter Terrorism Policing officers having to step in to ensure the public鈥檚 safety. However, there are also a number of interventions which can be made at an earlier stage to assist those at risk of radicalisation, towards taking a better path.鈥�

It is believed at least four British teenagers have been arrested in connection with the group, which was founded in 2020 by US teenager, Bradley Cadenhead, who was 15 at the time. Cadenhead was arrested in 2021 and is currently serving an 80-year prison sentence for the creation of videos in which children were sexually abused, choked, beaten, suffocated and seriously injured.