A lorry driver who wanted to start a race “war” has been sentenced to 16 years in jail after stockpiling weapons and explosives on a caravan site in Essex.Kingston Crown Court heard Thomas McKenna, 60, ran a workshop from his caravan converting blank-firing guns into deadly pistols to sell to criminals.
He had also been making explosives with his partner, bus driver Tina Smith, 55, in their caravan in South Ockenden, creating makeshift grenades as he prepared to launch attacks on Muslim immigrants.
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Firearms were seized by police in connection with Thomas McKenna’s operation to reactivate blank-firing weapons. Pic: Met Police
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Homemade bombs, explosive materials and guidebooks on how to make improvised munitions were seized. Pic: Met Police
Eight others have already been convicted of selling or possessing blank firearms that had been converted by McKenna. He and his partner were among four people sentenced at Kingston Court Court on Thursday.When police raided the site in November 2024, they found loaded guns, homemade bombs and explosive materials, and another caravan equipped with a lathe, drills and welding equipment.
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Armed officers raiding a caravan site and arresting McKenna in November 2024. Pic: Met Police
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Pic: Met Police
Officers also seized a 22-inch shotgun disguised as a torch, a hunting knife, throwing axes and a replica AK-47 assault rifle.Scotland Yard detectives say McKenna’s enterprise played an important role in the supply of guns in the capital.
The court previously heard he distributed weapons to a criminal network, which included Faisal Razzaq, the getaway driver involved in the fatal shooting of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, who was attacked as she attended an armed robbery in Bradford in 2005.
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One caravan was equipped with a lathe, drills and welding equipment. Pic: Met Police
Prosecutor Emily Dummett said McKenna wrote messages about plans to “kill”, “shoot”, “unalive” and “neutralise” Muslims and immigrants “before they are too many”.
The court heard details of other private messages shared with associates about his preparations for a “war”.Read more from Jattvibe:Man sentenced after stabbing soldierPalestine Action wins court challengeHow police stopped terror attack
In January 2024, he wrote: “We must go [to] war and win, brother”.Less than two weeks later posted: “We need to start killing them bro and now.”Other buyers of McKenna’s converted guns include Allan Crosby, 44, of Etfield Grove, Sidcup, and Ryan Smith, 44, of Morants Court Road, Dunton Green in Kent. Both were convicted of possessing firearms.
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Allan Crosby, Tina Smith, Thomas McKenna and Ryan Smith are sentenced for firearms offences. Pic: Met Police
McKenna pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms and ammunition, while Smith admitted possession of a prohibited firearm.Both also admitted making explosives and possessing documents and videos useful for terrorism, but denied they were planning a terrorist attack.
Tina Smith received a seven-year sentence, with six to be served in custody.Crosby, who was also convicted of possessing class A substances with intent to supply, was jailed for 10 years, while Smith was sentenced to seven and a half years.Six reactivated blank-firing guns linked to McKenna have been recovered, but prosecutors believe he created more.
