Lorry Driver Ran Illegal Gun Conversion Workshop from Caravan for 'Race War'
A far-right lorry driver converted blank-firing guns into deadly pistols to sell to gangsters while simultaneously stockpiling weapons for what he described as a 'race war', a court has heard. Thomas McKenna, aged 60, sent messages urging friends and online associates to 'get yourself ready' and declared that 'the time for protesting is over' as he prepared to wage war against Muslims.
Messages Reveal Violent Extremist Intent
Prosecutor Emily Dummett told Kingston Crown Court that McKenna wrote messages detailing plans to 'kill', 'shoot', 'unalive', or 'neutralise' Muslims and immigrants. In one particularly disturbing message, McKenna stated: 'Bro, that's why I believe our only course for survival freedom is strike now while we have the numbers and hard unalive the f****** lot of them.' The court heard that McKenna believed Muslims had 'flooded our lands' and described it as a 'hostile takeover', advising others to 'keep yourself safe'.
Caravan-Based Weapons Workshop Uncovered
McKenna operated his illegal gun conversion business using a lathe and a drill from one of three caravans located at a large traveller site on Buckles Lane in South Ockendon, Essex. He sold the converted firearms for profit to organised crime groups, with prosecutors revealing that six reactivated blank-firing guns linked to McKenna have been recovered, though they believe he created more.
Dramatic police footage captured the moment armed officers raided McKenna's caravan, discovering weapons and explosives inside. The defendant was frogmarched outside and searched after the caravan was surrounded. Alongside the weapons, manuals on bomb making and firearms were found, understood to be part of his preparation for the so-called 'race war'.
Explosives and Extensive Arsenal Seized
McKenna also manufactured improvised explosives containing black powder and shrapnel. Officers raided the three caravans in November 2024, uncovering:
- Two loaded guns
- Two improvised explosive devices
- A non-firing replica AK47
- Ammunition
- Crossbows
- Hunting knives
- Knuckle dusters
McKenna and his partner, Tina Smith, 55, a bus driver, are believed to have lived and slept in the caravan where the weapons were stashed. McKenna sent Smith links to videos demonstrating how to make explosives.
Links to Organised Crime Network
The court heard that one of the converted pistols and ammunition was found at the home of Faisal Razzaq in Edgware, north London. Razzaq, 44, who was convicted of manslaughter for his role as the getaway driver in the fatal shooting of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky in 2005, received firearms from McKenna for onward sale to criminal customers.
Prosecutor Emily Dummett explained: 'Converted top-venting blank firing pistols are a popular choice for criminals. They are easier to get hold of than original lethal purpose firearms, but can be used, in just the same way, to threaten, to seriously injure and to kill.'
Multiple Convictions and Sentencing
McKenna has pleaded guilty to 14 counts, including converting blank firing guns, making explosives, and collecting terrorist information. Tina Smith admitted four counts related to the firearms conspiracy. The couple and eight others have been convicted for their involvement in the conspiracy, with linked guns found across London and the South East.
Other customers of McKenna's converted guns include:
- Allan Crosby, 44, of Sidcup
- Ryan Smith, 44, of Dunton Green, Kent
Both were convicted of possession of firearms and modified ammunition. McKenna's friend Ricky Dorey, 43, who lived on the same static caravan site, helped him find customers to buy the guns. He and his brother Robert Dorey, 44, of Tilbury, Essex, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited firearms.
Additional defendants include:
- Abdul Saleh, 32, of Edgware
- Loughnane, of Hayes, west London
- Tammy Rigg (Loughnane's partner)
Saleh, the Dorey brothers, and Loughnane each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell prohibited firearms. Razzaq admitted the same charge plus five other counts. Rigg pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
Sentencing Schedule
The sentencing hearing for McKenna, Tina Smith, Crosby, and Ryan Smith is set to conclude on February 6. Razzaq, Saleh, the Dorey brothers, Loughnane, and Rigg will be sentenced later next month. This case highlights the dangerous intersection of far-right extremism and organised crime, with illegal firearms posing a significant threat to public safety.
