THE gun massacre in Plymouth last week could be declared a TERROR ATTACK over the gunman's warped, women-hating views, it is claimed.
Jake Davison, 22, regularly posted misogyny-filled videos on his YouTube page and had ties to the warped online world of incels – a global collective oftwisted men who identify as 'involuntary celebrates'.
These individuals routinely express violent hatred of women for not wanting to have sex with them and have regularly praise mass murders and other violent incidents – usually against women – involving incels.
Now, according to The Times, officers from the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit will look at Davison's phone, computer and online postings to asses what extent being an 'incel' played in the massacre.
If being an incel is deemed to be a motive for the massacre, which left five innocent people dead, including a three-year-old girl – then the incident will fall into counter-terror policing and be formally declared a terror attack.
Read our Plymouth shooting live blog for the latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
PLYMOUTH MP CALLS FOR ‘THOROUGH INVESTIGATION’ INTO KEYHAM SHOOTING
Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has called for a “thorough investigation” into the Keyham mass shooting.
He told BBC Breakfast yesterday: “I think people’s emotions have changed from shock and disbelief into now feeling that profound loss of the five people who were killed.
“But also a sense of anger. Wanting to know the questions as to how was this allowed to happen, why did this happen, and were there opportunities to stop this happening that were not taken?
“We need to get to the answers of those and that will take some time, and police need to be able to have the space to do it. But we need to make sure the community gets those proper answers because they deserve them.
“That means they need to be thorough, detailed and accurate, and not speculative, and that will take some time sadly.”
- Joseph Gamp
JAKE DAVISON'S MOTHER SAID SHE WOULD 'NEVER GIVE UP ON HIM'
The devoted mum who was shot dead by her gun fanatic son Jake Davison had said she would "never give up on him".
The killer blasted Maxine, 51, after kicking down her door as he launched his shooting spree.
Her best friend, Tracey Clarke, 45, told The Sun: "She was devoted. She said she would always be there for him because he is her son. She said he had mental health problems but I never thought it would escalate to this."
She said he had previously left punch marks on the wall of Maxine's home.
- Joseph Gamp
HUNDREDS GATHER TO MOURN VICTIMS OF PLYMOUTH SHOOTING
There has been a heartfelt plea for change as hundreds gathered in Plymouth to pay their respects to the five people killed in one of the UK's worst mass shootings.
Civic leaders, religious figures, politicians, emergency service workers and the military joined around 200 people outside the Guildhall in Plymouth city centre to hold a one minute's silence.
They gathered to mourn and reflect on last week's devastating events when gunman Jake Davison, 22, launched his murderous spree in the Keyham area of the city.
Davison shot his 51-year-old mother Maxine Davison, also known as Maxine Chapman, at a house in Biddick Drive before he went into the street and shot dead Sophie Martyn, aged three, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43.
- Joseph Gamp
LUKE POLLARD: WE MUST ENSURE THERE’S NO MORE PAIN
Local MP Luke Pollard added that he did not want to see what happened in Plymouth happening to any other community.
Mr Pollard told BBC Breakfast: “If that is to be our clear objective, to ensure there’s no more pain, no more loss like we’re suffering, then the stuff that’s implemented has to be the right things.
“So we do need that national discussion about it, we need the politicians to look carefully at the processes we’ve got, but we need the right lessons to be learned from this hideous tragedy that we’ve had in Plymouth.”
- Joseph Gamp
HOW DID THE INCEL MOVEMENT START?
The incel movement, originally called invcel, in the late 1990s in Canada as a support group for people whose social anxiety and other problems made it hard for them to form relationships.
It was started by a queer woman living in Toronto called Alana (she has not revealed her last name publicly).
She said she began the movement when she began trying to date in her mid-20s and was struggling with loneliness. She thought there would be other people like her so she started ‘Alana’s Involuntary Celibacy Project’ – a text website which acted as an early forum to give people support.
It was crucially meant as a place for people to find comfort and help to build social skills and make friends who understood what they were going through.
Alana eventually found a loving relationship and began to drift away from the movement around 2000 as she did not think it would be “hijacked by angry men” who sought to blame women for their problems.
- Joseph Gamp
COPS FEARED PRIVACY VIOLATIONS WHEN GIVING GUN BACK
Cops failed to trawl through Jake Davison’s online activity before giving back the gun he then used to kill five people.
Devon and Cornwall chief constable Shaun Sawyer admitted his force feared invading the 22-year-old’s privacy.
He said: “We take and return firearms on a not irregular basis when people have emotional crises or we receive reports from family members, then they can be returned.
“What we don’t do, because firearms licencing is a lawful thing, is trawl the internet looking at people’s lives. That’s an invasion of privacy.”
Davison’s pump action shotgun was handed back last month.
- Joseph Gamp
MAPPED: INCEL KILLER’S RAMPAGE
- Joseph Gamp
‘THE WORLD IS A DARKER PLACE WITHOUT YOU’: TRIBUTES TO PLYMOUTH SHOOTING VICTIMS
A father gunned down alongside his three-year-old daughter in the Plymouth mass shooting “would do anything for anybody”, according to a tribute from his cousin.
Lee Martyn, 43, and his daughter Sophie were killed when gunman Jake Davison opened fire in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of the city on Thursday evening. Jess Morcom, Mr Martyn’s cousin and a journalist at PlymouthLive, paid tribute to the pair and spoke of the loss felt by her family.
In a post on Twitter, she said that Mr Martyn “had the kindest heart, would do anything for anybody” and that “you only had to take one look at him to see how much he loved and adored his family”. I was always so proud to be able to say you were my cousin,” she added. “The world is going to be a much darker place without you in it.”
In a tribute to Sophie, Ms Morcom said her family had been “truly blessed” to have “seen you grow into such a beautiful, funny and clever girl” over the three years of her life.
“My heart hurts so much thinking about how it should have been so many more. I will miss your cheekiness and your dancing the most,” she added.
- Joseph Gamp
HOW DID THE INCEL MOVEMENT START?
The incel movement, originally called invcel, in the late 1990s in Canada as a support group for people whose social anxiety and other problems made it hard for them to form relationships.
It was started by a queer woman living in Toronto called Alana (she has not revealed her last name publicly).
She said she began the movement when she began trying to date in her mid-20s and was struggling with loneliness. She thought there would be other people like her so she started ‘Alana’s Involuntary Celibacy Project’ – a text website which acted as an early forum to give people support.
It was crucially meant as a place for people to find comfort and help to build social skills and make friends who understood what they were going through.
Alana eventually found a loving relationship and began to drift away from the movement around 2000 as she did not think it would be “hijacked by angry men” who sought to blame women for their problems.
- Joseph Gamp
TORY MP CALLS FOR MORE RIGOROUS CHECKS BEFORE GUNS ARE RETURNED
Tory MP Tim Loughton called for more rigorous checks before guns are returned.
He said: “Surely, those must include scrutinising social media to get a full idea of the person’s background.
“It’s a matter of public record. It’s a misunderstanding of social media to suggest it would be invading their privacy.”
- Joseph Gamp
‘THE WORLD IS A DARKER PLACE WITHOUT YOU’: TRIBUTES TO PLYMOUTH SHOOTING VICTIMS
A father gunned down alongside his three-year-old daughter in the Plymouth mass shooting “would do anything for anybody”, according to a tribute from his cousin.
Lee Martyn, 43, and his daughter Sophie were killed when gunman Jake Davison opened fire in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of the city on Thursday evening. Jess Morcom, Mr Martyn’s cousin and a journalist at PlymouthLive, paid tribute to the pair and spoke of the loss felt by her family.
In a post on Twitter, she said that Mr Martyn “had the kindest heart, would do anything for anybody” and that “you only had to take one look at him to see how much he loved and adored his family”. I was always so proud to be able to say you were my cousin,” she added. “The world is going to be a much darker place without you in it.”
In a tribute to Sophie, Ms Morcom said her family had been “truly blessed” to have “seen you grow into such a beautiful, funny and clever girl” over the three years of her life.
“My heart hurts so much thinking about how it should have been so many more. I will miss your cheekiness and your dancing the most,” she added.
- Joseph Gamp
KEYHAM IS GRIEVING SAYS COMMUNITY LEADER
Addressing the mourners outside the Guildhall, Keyham community leader Kevin Sproston said: "The solidarity, love and support shown by Plymouth and the UK towards Keyham has been overwhelming and we thank you for all your kind messages, it means a lot.
"At the moment Keyham is grieving. We grieve because we love and grief is love.
"We are in shock, feel guilty and angry about the events surrounding the deaths of our beloved community members because we love.
"It is that love and energy that we can now use to bring about change. As a community we will look to restore and rebuild together.
"Collectively we will support each other and help bring back a community we want our children to inherit."
- Joseph Gamp
MURDEROUS RAMPAGE
Davison shot dead his mother Maxine first of all during his killing spree on Thursday evening before shooting and killing Mr Martyn and his daughter Sophie in the street.
Davison then aimed and shot at Ben and Michelle before walking out of a cul-de-sac and shooting dead dog walker Stephen Washington, 59.
His last victim was 66-year Kate Shepherd, who was shot dead outside the Blush hair salon, before he turned the gun on himself and took his own life.
It emerged on Friday Davison had his gun taken from him in December 2020 following an allegation of assault made two-months previously.
- Joseph Gamp
PLYMOUTH SHOOTINGS COULD BE CLASSED AS TERROR ATTACK, SAY POLICE
The Plymouth shootings could be reclassified as a terror attack as police investigate the gunman's links to the "incel" movement.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the decision to categorise Jake Davison's murder spree as a non-terror incident was taken by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Network.
Social media use by the 22-year-old gunman, who killed five people in Plymouth before turning the weapon on himself, showed he appeared to have an interest in the "involuntary celibate" culture.
During a 12-minute attack in the Keyham area of the city, the apprentice crane operator shot his 51-year-old mother Maxine Davison at a house in Biddick Drive before he went into the street and shot dead Sophie Martyn, aged three, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43.
Davison then killed Stephen Washington, 59, in a nearby park before shooting 66-year-old Kate Shepherd and then taking his own life
- Joseph Gamp
FIREWORKS PLANNED IN MEMORY OF PLYMOUTH SHOOTING VICTIMS
A popular fireworks competition taking place this week will be dedicated to those who were killed in the Plymouth shootings.
The annual British Firework Championships are being held in the city on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
In a special tribute to Maxine Davison, 51, three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father Lee Martyn, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, five heart-shaped fireworks will be set off at 9.15pm on both nights.
Council leader Nick Kelly said: "We have thought long and hard about whether the event should go ahead or not, but after listening to many people's views we've decided to dedicate these two nights to the victims.
"We've also spoken to members of the community in Keyham to get their views. We know the firework championships are something children, in particular, love. It is an event that brings joys to thousands and it brings Plymouth Together."
- Joseph Gamp
POLICE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING WHETHER TO CLASS ATTACK AS TERRORISM
Police are reportedly considering whether to class the attack in which Jake Davison killed five people as terrorism despite initially calling it a domestic incident.
Devon and Cornwall Police are leading the investigation but are reportedly working with the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit to probe Davison links to the misogynist incel movement, The Times reports .
The force are already under fire for their decision to return Davison's gun without looking into his social media and online activity due to 'privacy concerns'.
- Joseph Gamp
TORY MP AND FORMER SOLDIER JOHNNY MERCER DESCRIBES SITUATION AS 'HUMILIATING TO WATCH'
Tory MP and former army officer Johnny Mercer described the situation as "humiliating to watch".
"We have politically chosen to be defeated by the Taliban and we have to accept that," he told Sky News.
"Personally I think it's shameful. It's out of keeping with our values and our principles. I never thought I'd see the day either as a serviceman or as a member of the Conservative Party where we would essentially surrender to the Taliban and leave these people to their fate."
Mercer also questioned why the UK has followed the US lead in leaving the country.
"We don't pour 40 billion pounds a year into a defence budget in order to not leave the gates or be able to do anything without the Americans," he said.
- Joseph Gamp
***GRAPHIC WARNING*** PLYMOUTH GUNMAN LIES IN POOL OF BLOOD AFTER SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE HEAD
TWISTED gunman Jake Davison lies in a pool of blood after shooting himself in the head following a six-minute rampage that left five dead.
The 22-year-old shot dead his mum Maxine Davison, 51, before picking innocent strangers off at random as he roamed the streets of Plymouth. After murdering Sophie Martyn, three, and her adoptive dad Lee, 43, he shot dead dog walker Stephen Washington, 59.
He then aimed his pump-action shotgun at 66-year Kate Shepherd outside a hairdresser as police raced to the scene on Thursday.
The incel loner then turned the gun on himself while sirens blared out – bringing Britain's worst mass shooting in a decade to an end.
Footage shows Davison lying on the ground in a pool of blood as officers begin to surround him.
Gunman Jake Davison lies on the ground after shooting himself in PlymouthCredit: Twitter - Joseph Gamp
PRIEST URGES AGAINST ‘CYCLE OF ANGER’ AT PRAYERS FOR PLYMOUTH SHOOTING VICTIMS
Prayers have been said for the five victims of the Plymouth shooting as the community comes together in mourning.
A church in Keyham close to the scene used a Sunday service to remember those killed on Thursday, while a special prayer has been written by the Bishop of Exeter.
It came as questions continue to mount over how gunman Jake Davison, 22, obtained a firearms licence and carried out his spree before turning the gun on himself.
Father David Way, parish priest at St Thomas’ Church in Keyham, told the PA news agency after the service: “Those people who have died, we have to keep those in our prayers, but also the loved ones which have been left behind.
“I’m hoping we can break any cycle of anger, as it were, and bring a cycle of love for everybody involved.”
During the service, he asked the congregation to pray for the five victims, Maxine Davison, Lee Martyn, Sophie Martyn, Kate Shepherd and Stephen Washington, adding: “We pray also for peace for Jake.”
- Joseph Gamp
‘THE WORLD IS A DARKER PLACE WITHOUT YOU’: TRIBUTES TO PLYMOUTH SHOOTING VICTIMS
A father gunned down alongside his three-year-old daughter in the Plymouth mass shooting “would do anything for anybody”, according to a tribute from his cousin.
Lee Martyn, 43, and his daughter Sophie were killed when gunman Jake Davison opened fire in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of the city on Thursday evening. Jess Morcom, Mr Martyn’s cousin and a journalist at PlymouthLive, paid tribute to the pair and spoke of the loss felt by her family.
In a post on Twitter, she said that Mr Martyn “had the kindest heart, would do anything for anybody” and that “you only had to take one look at him to see how much he loved and adored his family”. I was always so proud to be able to say you were my cousin,” she added. “The world is going to be a much darker place without you in it.”
In a tribute to Sophie, Ms Morcom said her family had been “truly blessed” to have “seen you grow into such a beautiful, funny and clever girl” over the three years of her life.
“My heart hurts so much thinking about how it should have been so many more. I will miss your cheekiness and your dancing the most,” she added.
- Joseph Gamp
TORY MP CALLS FOR MORE RIGOROUS CHECKS BEFORE GUNS ARE RETURNED
Tory MP Tim Loughton called for more rigorous checks before guns are returned.
He said: “Surely, those must include scrutinising social media to get a full idea of the person’s background.
“It’s a matter of public record. It’s a misunderstanding of social media to suggest it would be invading their privacy.”
- Joseph Gamp
HE ‘SHOT VICTIMS AT CLOSE-RANGE’
Shocked witnesses said Jake Davison, 22, left his family home before shooting dead five people, including a young girl in Plymouth last night.
The crane operator shot himself dead yesterday after gunning down a his mum Maxine, 51.
Davison also killed three-year-old Sophie Martyn, and her father Lee, 43, mum Kate Shepherd, 66, second woman and Stephen Washington, 59, – believed to have been walking his dogs – during the horror.
One neighbour said they saw Davison shoot the toddler and her parent at close range, and hovered over their bodies after killing them, shortly after 6pm.
- Joseph Gamp
POLICE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING WHETHER TO CLASS ATTACK AS TERRORISM
Police are reportedly considering whether to class the attack in which Jake Davison killed five people as terrorism despite initially calling it a domestic incident.
Devon and Cornwall Police are leading the investigation but are reportedly working with the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit to probe Davison links to the misogynist incel movement, The Times reports .
The force are already under fire for their decision to return Davison’s gun without looking into his social media and online activity due to ‘privacy concerns’.
- Joseph Gamp
TRIBUTE PAID TO PLYMOUTH SHOOTING VICTIM STEPHEN WASHINGTON
The family of Plymouth shooting victim Stephen Washington has said their world "has been turned upside down in the blink of an eye" as they paid tribute to him.
The 59-year-old, one of five people shot dead by Jake Davison on Thursday night, was a "devoted" family man and a "loving husband, father, grandfather and best friend", they said in a statement. Mr Washington was the fourth victim during Davison's shooting spree, gunned down in front of horrified onlookers in a park in the Keyham area of the city.
Mr Washington's family said: "Following on from the recent attack on our community on Thursday August 12, we, the Washington family, would like to issue the following tribute to Stephen. Stephen was a friendly, outgoing person.
"He would help anyone at the drop of a hat, he loved his animals and was often seen walking his two huskies in the area. Stephen was a devoted family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and best friend.
"Since the devastating events a couple of days ago, our world has been turned upside down in the blink of an eye and he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. Our hearts and thoughts are with the families also affected by this tragic incident."
- Joseph Gamp
PLYMOUTH LEFT IN STATE OF SHOCK AFTER MASS SHOOTING, COUNCIL CHIEF SAYS
The community in Plymouth is in a state of shock and reluctant to leave their homes following a mass shooting which left five people dead, the city council’s leader has said.
Nick Kelly, leader of Plymouth City Council, said people “wanted a hug and assurances things will get better” after gunman Jake Davison killed five people before turning the weapon on himself.
It came after hundreds of people attended a candle-lit vigil close to where the incident took place on Friday night in an outpouring of grief for the victims.
Davison, 22, shot dead his mother on Thursday in the Keyham area of the city before going on to kill four more people, including a three-year-old girl, and injure two others.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into Davison’s possession of a shotgun and a firearms licence, which were returned to him after being removed at the end of last year.
Source: Read Full Article
