A biological female identifying as a “transgender” male was sentenced to six years in prison this week for plotting a Columbine-style mass shooting at a school in Edinburgh.

Felix Winter, 18, kept a detailed diary idolizing the Columbine killers, collected weapons, and documented plans for a mass casualty event. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Winter had also been involved in a Discord server with pro-Nazi content, had conducted online research into bomb-making, and had shared disturbing material under pseudonyms on social media platforms.

According to official court records, Winter had previously been referred to the UK’s Prevent anti-terrorism program on four occasions. Despite these warnings, the teen continued to exhibit increasingly extreme behavior until the arrest in 2023.

During sentencing, the judge described Winter as “a very real risk to the public” and said the planning amounted to preparations “to carry out a murderous attack on fellow pupils.”

The case gained renewed attention after it was flagged on social media, with critics noting that some news outlets, including the BBC, did not mention Winter’s biological sex in their reporting. The BBC referred to Winter as a “teenager” and a “transgender person,” and avoided using sex-specific language throughout the article.

Court documents and reporting confirm that Winter’s plot was heavily inspired by the 1999 Columbine massacre, in which two teenage gunmen killed 13 people and wounded over 20 at a Colorado high school. Winter reportedly viewed the attack as a model and aspired to replicate its impact.