How 14-year-old boys put together plan to massacre students at their Yorkshire school

Two boys who plotted a Columbine-inspired shooting at their school in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, have been sentenced.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Jul 2018, 16:10 BST
Updated 20th Jul 2018, 17:12 BST
Photo issued by North East CTU of the contents of a rucksack that was found by officers searching the older boy's hideout, which prosecutors claimed were instruments for building an explosive.Photo issued by North East CTU of the contents of a rucksack that was found by officers searching the older boy's hideout, which prosecutors claimed were instruments for building an explosive.
Photo issued by North East CTU of the contents of a rucksack that was found by officers searching the older boy's hideout, which prosecutors claimed were instruments for building an explosive.

Two schoolboys who plotted Yorkshire classroom massacre given custodial sentences

Here is a timeline of events relating to the case:

- April 20 1999 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carry out a deadly shooting at the Columbine High School in Colorado.

2017

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- May 5 - In the UK, the two teenagers both download a document which provides, among other things, instructions on manufacturing bombs.

- May 16 - The younger boy messages the older boy, telling him he “can’t be bothered any more”. The older boy responds by saying: “If you’re gonna kill yourself, shoot up the school.”

- June - The older boy starts dating a girl. In her evidence to court, she claimed they initially hit it off, but over time “the darker stuff started”.

- September 4 - The older defendant carves his name on to the girl’s lower back. She would later describe reluctantly consenting as “the biggest mistake I’ve ever made”.

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- September 8 - The younger boy messages his co-conspirator to say: “I really wanna shoot up the school.”

- September 27 - The same boy tells a schoolgirl of the plan to carry out a shooting at the school.

- September 28 - Police officers interview the two boys separately. The younger says he confessed to get his co-accused to stop, whilst the other denies any plotting.

- October 22 - A search of the older boy’s hideout in Catterick Garrison uncovers a rucksack filled with wires, screws and a bottle of liquid. Prosecutors claim these were instruments for building a weapon.

- October 23 - The older boy is arrested.

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- October 25 - The other teenager voluntarily attends a police station with his mother.

2018

- May 24 - The two teenage boys are convicted of conspiracy to murder at Leeds Crown Court.

- July 20 - A judge at the same court sentences them to 12 years and 10 years.

Related topics:North YorkshireNorthallerton