A neo-Nazi teenager who attempted to behead a Kurdish barber with an axe in a hate-fueled attack has been sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison. Alina Burns, 19, attacked Mohammed Mahmoodi outside a shop in Bedminster, Bristol, in August 2025, driven by extremist beliefs and a desire to kill all Jews and Muslims.
The Attack
On the afternoon of August 2, Burns approached the 27-year-old victim from behind and swung an axe at his neck, causing a small wound. Mr Mahmoodi, who is significantly larger than Burns, managed to wrestle the weapon away before she could strike again. A nearby police officer heard the commotion and arrested Burns at the scene.
When asked why she attacked, Burns told the officer: "Because I wanted to cut his neck. I would do it again, but to succeed." She later claimed she targeted the victim because she believed the barbershop where he worked was involved in money laundering and hoped the attack would prompt a police investigation.
Extremist Background
Investigations revealed Burns had a deep-seated neo-Nazi ideology. She had communicated with a man on a dating app, telling him to "kill all the Jews and Muslims in Britain please." She also accessed large amounts of far-right material, including videos of SS marches, Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, and the nationalist novel The Turner Diaries.
Police found handwritten notes at her home about the "spread of Islam," how to manufacture explosives, and nuclear weapons. Her computer contained a terrorist handbook with information on chemicals and IEDs. She also used Telegram to contact a representative of the British far-right group Patriotic Alternative.
Sentencing
Burns admitted attempted murder and three counts of possessing a bladed article. She denied engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, but the judge accepted the attack had a terrorist motivation. Mrs Justice Lambert sentenced her to 15 and a half years in custody with an additional four-year licence period, describing her as a "dangerous offender" deeply entrenched in abnormal beliefs.
The judge noted Burns had expressed a desire to "kill all the Jews and Muslims in Britain" and take glory for carrying out such acts. She will be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of her sentence.
Victim Impact
Mr Mahmoodi, who fled Iran due to persecution and sought asylum in the UK, said the attack has profoundly affected his life. In a statement, he said: "I cannot move my neck easily and the physical reminder of the scar where I was nearly killed is a daily reminder. My mental health has suffered and I am living in fear."
Defence and Background
Andrew Langdon KC, defending, said Burns had a difficult childhood, including homelessness and living in temporary accommodation. She stopped attending full-time education at age 14, despite both parents being teachers. He described her life as a "spiralling descent and isolation."
Detective Superintendent Sarah Robbins from Counter Terrorism Policing South West stated: "It is our view that Burns carried out this dreadful attack because of her distorted beliefs and extreme mindset. We believe she targeted the victim because she perceived him to be either an immigrant, an ethnicity which she held contempt for, or both."
