A neo-Nazi teenager has admitted carrying out an axe attack on an Iranian-Kurdish man in Bristol in a case that has raised fresh concerns about far-right radicalisation among young people.
Alina Burns, 18, from Bristol, pleaded guilty to attempted murder after attacking Mohammed Mahmoodi outside a barber’s shop in the Bedminster area in August 2025.
The victim, a 27-year-old man of Iranian Kurdish background, sustained injuries but survived the assault.
CCTV from inside the shop showed the 27-year-old turning and ducking at the last minute as she swung an axe at his neck.
The teenager then tried to strike Mr Mahmoodi again, before he managed to disarm her, escaping with only painful scratches to his neck and cheek.
Burns nodded when the arresting officer asked her if she had swung the axe at the man. When he asked her why, she said: “I wanted to cut his neck.”
Police later discovered an email she had written to an associate, saying: “Kill all Jews and Muslims in Britain, please.”
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According to investigators, Burns used multiple weapons during the attack, including an axe and other bladed items. She was arrested shortly afterwards, and counter-terrorism police later took over the case as details of her extremist views emerged.
Burns was a member of the Patriotic Alternative, a far-right group. Authorities say she had developed an obsession with Nazi ideology and far-right extremism prior to the incident.
Reports indicate she was linked to extremist networks and had expressed racist and violent views online, contributing to concerns about online radicalisation pathways among teenagers.
Initially charged with several offences including attempted murder and possession of weapons, prosecutors later added a terrorism-related charge, alleging preparation of terrorist acts. While Burns admitted attempted murder, she has denied the terrorism charge, which is being handled separately in court proceedings.
The case has drawn attention to a broader trend identified by UK security services and researchers: the increasing involvement of young people in far-right extremism. Analysts warn that online communities and propaganda continue to play a significant role in exposing teenagers to violent ideologies.
Burns remains in custody awaiting further legal proceedings, with the outcome of the terrorism-related charge expected to shape how the case is ultimately classified.
