Dunblane-style shooting plot 'uncovered by cops who found armoury of weapons'

03 October 2023 , 12:56

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Reed Wischhusen

Police have uncovered a plot to carry out a horrific Dunblane style shooting at a primary school, it can be revealed.

Officers from Avon & Somerset police discovered the chilling plan after they visited the house of 32-year-old Reed Wischhusen last year. Bristol crown court heard how Wischhusen, from Somerset, branded a shotgun at officers who shot him first, leaving him in hospital for four months.

Wischussen, who was not previously known to the police, survived the shooting and spent four months being treated under guard at Bristol Royal Infirmary before being interviewed by police. But when officers searched his property they discovered what Prosecutor Jonathan Rees described as: “a dark secret”.

They found a “small armoury” with multiple firearms including a viable machine gun. They also found a vintage lathe and pillar drill in a concrete outhouse, which Wischhusen had used to adapt the firearms into live weapons. They also discovered he had also acquired police uniforms including body armour, and a hat.

Reed Wischhusen was gunned down by officers, leaving him in hospital for four months

Detectives discovered he was planning a two phased attack, first at his former primary school using a silenced pistol and pipe bombs and then on police headquarters in Portishead, using pressure cooker bombs and a machine gun. Manuals and books on the construction of firearms were found, along with a document titled “Revenge” - which highlighted plans to attack people who he believed had wronged him.

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This included former classmates, teachers and named police employees - some of whom he had not seen for nearly 15 years. He also referenced American mass shooting tragedies Columbine and Oklahoma, and Scottish mass murderer Thomas Hamilton and cop hater Ralph Maclean from the US.

Wischhusen was rushed to Southmead Hospital in Bristol (Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

In the document Wischussen singled out specific individuals for murder including former teachers, fellow pupils and police officers. He wrote: “Revenge is on my mind, it is a powerful motivator. Started with the boy from primary school who pinned me to the wall for no reason. Soon I'll be chasing him down with a silenced pistol.”

Police at the cordon near the scene in Somerset where Wischhusen was shot (Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

Later he explained how he would target specific police firearms officers who had denied him a shotgun licence while leaving others alive to watch it. He also wrote of his admiration for Dunblane killer Thomas Hamilton. He wrote: “I'll let the FLOs (firearms licencing officers) go and let them have survivor's guilt...the ultimate mind control.'

He added: “It worked brilliantly for Thomas Hamilton.” He is appearing before Bristol crown court today charged with possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possessing a firearm and two counts of possessing ammunition. The case continues.

Adam Aspinall