Full Breakdown
Neo-Nazi Teen Sentenced for Axe Attack on Kurdish Barber in Bristol
5/16/2026, 1:24:17 AM
The Attack and Sentencing
On 2 August 2025, Alina Burns, 19, approached 27-year-old barber Mohammed Mahmoodi from behind outside BHK Barber in Bedminster, Bristol, and swung an axe at his neck. Mahmoodi wrested the weapon away, preventing a fatal injury. Burns was convicted of attempted murder and three counts of carrying an axe, a scalpel and two darts. Bristol Crown Court sentenced her to 19 years and six months, with a minimum term of 15 years and six months.
Extremist Influences and Online Contacts
Investigators established that Burns was motivated by neo-Nazi ideology. Five months before the attack she used a dating app to urge a man to “kill all the Jews and Muslims in Britain.” She possessed Adolf Hitler’s *Mein Kampf*, the white-supremacist novel *The Turner Diaries*, and notes on manufacturing explosives. Burns communicated via Telegram with a representative of the far-right group Patriotic Alternative and had viewed videos of SS marches, sending an email titled “The Dawn of Civil War” the day before the assault.
Key Individuals and Groups
- Alina Burns – 19-year-old Bristol resident, attacker.
- Mohammed Mahmoodi – 27-year-old Kurdish barber, victim.
- Serena Gates KC – Prosecutor who presented the case.
- Det Supt Sarah Robbins – Counter-terrorism policing official.
- Supt Deepak Kenth – Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson.
- Patriotic Alternative – British far-right organization contacted by Burns.
- Judge Mrs Justice Lambert – Presiding judge who affirmed terrorist motivation.
Timeline of Events
- July 2025 – Burns exchanges extremist messages on a dating app.
- Early 2025 – Burns acquires extremist literature and explosives notes.
- 2 August 2025 – Axe attack on Mahmoodi outside BHK Barber.
- August 2025 – Burns arrested by Avon and Somerset police.
- September 2025 – Court hearing; Burns admits attempted murder, denies terrorist-preparation charge.
- October 2025 – Sentencing to 19 years 6 months.
Official Responses
Prosecutor Gates described Burns as holding an “extreme right-wing mindset” targeting Jews, Muslims and non-whites. Police officials highlighted the “extremely fortunate” outcome that no life was lost and labeled the incident “horrific” and directly linked to hateful ideology. Judge Lambert ruled that, despite Burns’ denial of a terrorism-preparation charge, the act retained a terrorist motive.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Findings
Burns denied the charge of preparing terrorist acts, asserting a lack of intent to commit terrorism. The court, however, concluded that the attack remained terrorist-motivated, reflecting a divergence between the defendant’s claim and judicial assessment. Details of the extent of Burns’ network within far-right circles remain unspecified.
Impact and Broader Significance
The case underscores the threat posed by online radicalisation among young individuals in the UK. It illustrates how extremist propaganda can translate into violent action, prompting law-enforcement agencies to monitor far-right communications on platforms such as Telegram and dating apps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The defendant had an extreme right-wing mindset and wanted Jews and Muslims to be killed, and non-whites to flee or be expelled from the UK.” — Serena Gates KC, Prosecutor
- “extremely fortunate that this vicious attack...didn't result in the loss of life” — Det Supt Sarah Robbins, Counter-Terrorism Policing South West
- “This is an extremely concerning case in which an 18-year-old woman has carried out a horrific attack on an innocent man in the street as a direct result of the hateful views she harboured.” — Supt Deepak Kenth, Avon and Somerset Police
- “daily reminder that I was nearly killed” — Mohammed Mahmoodi, Victim
What’s Next
Authorities continue to investigate Burns’ connections to Patriotic Alternative and other extremist networks. Ongoing monitoring of online far-right activity is expected to inform future counter-terrorism strategies.
