Plymouth shooter made misogynistic comments evoking ‘incel’ ideology

London (CNN) – Jake Davison, the 22-year-old man who shot and killed five people in the English city of Plymouth on Thursday, made repeated misogynistic comments on social media evoking the ideology of “incel”, a movement of men who often claim to be feel unfairly deprived of sex by women.

Davison uploaded hate speech against women to a YouTube channel that was removed. In the video clips seen by CNN, he makes numerous hateful comments, calling women “very simple” and superficial, saying that most women are only motivated by money.

The videos show the image of a young man who had been frustrated by his lack of sexual success with women since he was a teenager.

In another video, which was posted online by The Telegraph newspaper, Davison referred to himself as “the terminator.”

“I’m so downcast and defeated by life … that urge I once had is gone. I try … but now I’m at the point where it’s like, why do I even bother?” He said on YouTube. .

CNN has not confirmed when Davison recorded the clips. Luke Pollard, a member of parliament from Plymouth Sutton and Devonport verified to CNN that the man in the videos posted on YouTube was Davison. The video clips match images of Davison from his Facebook page, which was also removed.

Davison’s mother, Maxine Davison, 51, also known as Maxine Chapman, was listed as one of the victims.

The youngest victim was Sophie Martyn, a 3-year-old girl who was killed along with her 43-year-old father, Lee Martyn, according to police. Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, have also been identified as victims. Davison took his own life after the six-minute shooting, police said.

While police have not established any official link between the shooting and Davison’s videos, the gunman’s misogynistic comments echo comments often heard from men belonging to the incel movement (for “involuntary celibate” or “celibate involuntary “in Spanish).

Incels are almost always men or young people who defend misogynistic views and often say that they want to have sex, but feel that women or young women deny it.

After police said they were not treating the incident as a terrorism case, the shooting led to discussions online and in the media about whether incel violence should be included in anti-terrorism legislation.

Men described as “incels” have been behind several mass shootings in the United States and two in Germany by the same gunman.

Jonathan Hall, who is the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation in the UK, said it was unlikely that the laws would be changed after the shooting, but that if the country suffered more similar attacks, there could be discussions to do so.

“The question is really whether or not the authorities want to treat the incel phenomenon as a terrorist risk. That would imply diverting resources or putting resources into it,” he told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program.

“If we see more of these kinds of attacks, then I have no doubt that it will be treated more seriously as terrorism. It fits uncomfortably into the way the authorities understand the ideologies. It seems part of right-wing terrorism, but it is not really. Of In fact, it is quite separate from it. It is a different kind of ideology, “he said.

“The question is really one of choice. Do we want to start treating the incel as potential terrorists?”

Davison’s gun license was returned to him

The England Police Overseer will investigate the decisions of the Devon and Cornwall Police regarding the possession of weapons by the Plymouth shooter, who had a shotgun and shotgun certificate.

“The investigation follows a mandatory referral by authorities containing preliminary information that Mr. Davison’s shotgun certificate and shotgun were returned to him in early July this year,” said the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC in a statement issued Friday.

Local police had previously withheld Davison’s certificate and shotgun in December 2020 after facing assault allegations in September 2020, according to the IOPC.

IOPC Regional Director David Ford said: “We will examine what police actions were taken and when, the rationale behind police decision-making, and whether relevant laws, policies and procedures were followed regarding possession of a shotgun. by Mr. Davison “.

“The investigation will also consider whether authorities had any information about Mr. Davison’s mental health and, if so, whether this information was properly considered.”

Ford also noted that “the investigation will explore whether there was any causal link between the arrival of the police and Mr. Davison shooting himself.”

CNN’s Angela Dewan contributed to this report.