Somerset man jailed over plot to carry out ‘revenge’ attacks at old school

A warehouse worker obsessed with mass killings has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years after being found guilty of plotting to carry out “revenge” attacks at his old school, a police headquarters and his workplace.

Reed Wischhusen’s targets included former classmates whom he believed had bullied him, colleagues who mocked him, and Avon and Somerset police officers after the force refused him a firearms licence.

Wischhusen, 32, amassed an extraordinary armoury at his home, a modest semi-detached house he shared with his father in the village of Wick St Lawrence, near Weston-super-Mare.

He had converted a blank pistol into one capable of firing live rounds, had a viable 19th-century rifle, and was making a submachine gun. He also had material to make improvised explosive devices, silencers for guns, a full police uniform, bulletproof vests and handcuffs.

Two armed officers went to his house after a tip-off. Wischhusen came downstairs pointing a handgun at police and was shot.

The prosecution at Bristol crown court claimed Wischhusen had a “macabre interest” in the Dunblane gunman, Thomas Hamilton, and US mass killers.

He insisted his “revenge” plan, which he had written down, were mere fantasy and he was curious about firearms and explosives. He claimed his coming downstairs with a gun was a suicide attempt as he hoped the officers would shoot him dead.

The jury found him guilty of having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm without a certificate.

More details soon …