Bomber posed as model online to dupe men into terrorism
Christine Connor, aged 31, was jailed for 16 years and four months at Belfast Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to a number of terrorist offences, including the attempted murder of a police officer in the city.
Connor twice attacked officers with blast bombs in May 2013 after tricking them into responding to fake 999 calls in North Belfast. Nobody was seriously injured.
In one of the calls, she pretended to be a victim of domestic violence. When officers responded, she threw two blast bombs at them. One of the bombs landed at an officer’s feet.
Connor, from Mill Valley in North Belfast, had enlisted the help of an English man she had befriended online — using a false identity and photographs — to source and purchase explosives and ship them to her.
The PSNI said the region was a safer place with Connor behind bars.
Det Supt Richard Campbell, from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, described her as “a dangerous woman who exploited others to further her own twisted ideologies”.
“She was very cunning and duped a number of men through fake profile images on social media to become involved in her terrorist aspirations.
“She used online photographs of Swedish model, fashion designer and blogger Sanne Alexandra Andersson without her knowledge or consent. These bore no resemblance to Christine.”
Co-accused Stuart Downes, aged 31, from Meole Brace in Shrewsbury, had been befriended by Connor online.
Police believe he played a key part in the attacks on officers by sourcing and purchasing the explosives and then shipping them to her. Mr Downes took his own life before he was due to stand trial in June last year.
Judge David McFarland described Mr Downes as a “pitiful, troubled and vulnerable young man”.
“Why he became involved with you is a mystery,” he said to Connor.
“You attempted to indoctrinate Mr Downes with your views of Irish history.
“It’s within your power to manipulate others. You are committed to a violent philosophy to achieve political objectives. You have shown little remorse. I find you dangerous.”
Police revealed that Connor had also enticed an American man, Zachary Gevelinger, online. Mr Gevelinger was arrested and questioned by officers after he visited Connor while she was on remand in Hydebank Prison in July 2013.
Police found correspondence from him to Connor in her house, as well as cheques he had sent her.
Mr Gevelinger took his own life in May this year.
Connor was sentenced to 16 years and four months in prison for a number of terror offences, including the attempted murder of a police officer.
