A British teenager, Rhianan Rudd, who was Britain's youngest girl to be charged with terrorism offences at age 15, became involved with neo-Nazis and denied the Holocaust before her death in May 2022. Her mother, Emily Carter, has revealed in a new documentary, 'The Schoolgirl Terrorist?', how Rhianan was groomed online during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Rhianan, who was autistic and vulnerable, was reportedly interacting with someone she believed to be a school friend named 'Chris.' This individual was later identified as Chris Cook, an American neo-Nazi who was imprisoned for terrorism offenses related to plans to attack power grids. Cook had met Rhianan in an online gaming group and began grooming her in 2020.
Carter stated that her daughter developed an obsession with Germany, a fascination that began after discussions about German history with 'Chris.' Initially, Carter did not suspect anything amiss, as Rhianan's online activity appeared to be gaming, schoolwork, or chatting with friends. However, Rhianan's interests shifted from 'My Little Pony' to German history and then to extremist content found on platforms like Telegram and Discord.
Friends of Rhianan recalled her sudden embrace of Nazi ideology upon returning to school after lockdown. She drew swastikas and images of Adolf Hitler in schoolbooks, describing Hitler in a way one friend found unsettling. Another friend reported falling out with Rhianan after discovering she was talking to an adult online at age 14, warning her of the dangers. A third friend expressed bewilderment when Rhianan began espousing Holocaust denial and conspiracy theories about Jewish control of banks.
Rhianan was investigated by MI5 after downloading a bomb-making manual and expressing a desire to bomb a synagogue. Police seized a USB drive containing extremist materials and a diary from her home in October 2020. Despite initial concerns about her mental health, including a suicide attempt where she carved a swastika onto her forehead, a decision was made to arrest her due to the perceived risk to others. Terrorism charges were eventually dropped in December 2021 after the Home Office formally recognized Rhianan as a victim of exploitation.
An inquest in June 2025 concluded that the investigation and prosecution of Rhianan were 'necessary and appropriate.' However, the chief coroner also noted 'missed opportunities' to save her life, though she could not definitively state that Rhianan intended to end her own life. The coroner also identified Rhianan's mother's former partner, who had a criminal history and a swastika tattoo, as a 'significant radicalizing influence.'
Rhianan died at age 16 at a children's home in Nottinghamshire, five months after her charges were discontinued. Her mother maintains that Rhianan was a brainwashed victim who should have been treated as such, profoundly impacted by the investigation and the prospect of imprisonment.