Netflix-inspired bomb maker wanted to ‘blow up Blackpool bank’

A man who planned to blow up a bank in Blackpool after watching a Netflix documentary has been jailed for 20 years.

Alan Murphy was visited by police in Bolton Street on November 26, 2020 after reports were received of a man behaving suspiciously.

The 62-year-old lived in a camper and after a visit from police, the area around his camper was closed off.

Police gave the false name Mark Walker and carried out checks to discover that Murphy had escaped from prison. He was also known to possess firearms.

When searching a backpack (seen below with Murphy wearing it) that Murphy was carrying, a sawed-off shotgun was found.

He told police he also had an improvised explosive device (IED) in the bag and that he was “going to use it to blow up a bank” because he “saw it on a TV show.”

Murphy said he planned to damage the bank in Blackpool and the cars of bank employees, but he did not want to hurt anyone.

According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), he became furious after watching a Netflix documentary that exposed a major bank that allegedly financed terrorism and drug cartels in Mexico.

The bomb squad was called and secured the area. Nearby houses were evacuated and a cordon was put in place.

Murphy was charged with possession/control of explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property, two counts of possession of an imitation firearm in a public place and possession of a knife in a public place.

He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, plus a further five years of extended parole after the judge declared him a dangerous offender.

What the police and CPS had to say

Joe Isaacs, acting detective constable at West CID, said: Murphy is clearly a dangerous individual who had armed himself with devices that had the potential to cause significant harm to the public.

“Thanks to the support and information provided by the general public and other emergency services, supplemented by the good investigative police work of the officers on scene, Murphy was apprehended before he could cause any serious harm.”

Chief Prosecutor for CPS North West, Tom Snape, said: “Alan Murphy is a dangerous man who planned to carry out a terrifying bomb attack on a bank and its staff.

“It is fortunate that the officers were present that day and acted quickly to prevent Murphy from carrying out his plan, as it could have had devastating consequences.

“I hope this conviction and sentence provides some reassurance that this man has now been brought to justice.

“We will continue to work closely with police to do everything we can to ensure the safety of our communities.”

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