‘Incels’ could soon be treated as terrorists - so what is an incel?

“Incels” could soon officially be treated as terrorists if there are more attacks like the Plymouth shootings, one of the country’s leading terror experts has said.

Jake Davison, 22, the gunman behind the horrific mass shooting in Devon that left six people dead, posted videos openly lamenting his virginity, with his social media accounts suggesting he showed an intense interest in the online “involuntary celibate” subculture.

The UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Jonathan Hall QC told BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme on Saturday: “The question is really whether or not the authorities want to treat the incel phenomenon as a terrorist risk. That would involve diverting resources or putting resources into it.”