The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by
extremists and terrorist groups on the Internet to spread propaganda and incite
violence. Last week, white supremacist Telegram channels noted the U.S. State
Department’s designation of the Terrorgram Collective as Specially Designated
Global Terrorists, posting that it was necessary to find alternative
communication platforms and offering advice about avoiding crackdowns.
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Extremist Content Online: White Supremacist Telegram Channels Identify Need
for Alternative Platform After State Department’s Terrorgram Collective
Designation
(New York, N.Y.) — The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the
methods used by extremists and terrorist groups on the Internet to spread
propaganda and incite violence. Last week, white supremacist Telegram channels
noted the U.S. State Department’s designation of the Terrorgram Collective as
Specially Designated Global Terrorists, posting that it was necessary to find
alternative communication platforms and offering advice about avoiding
crackdowns.
A pro-ISIS group cautioned their followers to only donate money online to
individuals officially connected to the terrorist group. CEP researchers
located posts from another pro-ISIS group, the al-Saqri Foundation, which posts
bomb-making guides and provides other helpful information for committing
terrorist attacks, on the JustPaste.It bulletin board platform. A new ISIS
propaganda archive website was located on the .onion domain. Finally, ISIS’s
online supporters continued to advocate for lone-actor terrorist attacks,
including vehicular attacks and attacks on large public gatherings.
CEP researchers located a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the leader
of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe that encouraged harassment of a federal
judge. The fundraising website Buy Me A Coffee also removed a Blood Tribe
crowdfunding page after CEP reported it. Finally, multiple Telegram accounts
belonging to U.S. chapters of the white supremacist Active Club movement made
posts in favor of mass deportations and encouraged using pro-deportation
sentiment as a recruiting message.
White Supremacist Telegram Channels Note Terrorgram Specially Designated
Global Terrorist Designation
Multiple white supremacist Telegram channels acknowledged the U.S. State
Department’sdesignation
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of the Terrorgram Collective and three of its leaders as Specially Designated
Global Terrorists (SDGT) on January 13. The three individuals named are
residents of Brazil, Croatia, and South Africa. Two U.S. citizens who had
Terrorgram leadership roles werearrested
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in September and charged with soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of
federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
The SDGT designation prohibits financial transactions between U.S. persons and
businesses and listed entities.
A neo-Nazi accelerationist Telegram channel connected to former members of the
Atomwaffen Division noted the designation of Terrorgram but sought to downplay
the threat of the movement that federal officials have linked to two attacks in
Turkey and Slovakia. The channel claimed they were neither part of nor
connected to Terrorgram. The channel had previously stated that they had
contact with Terrorgram leader Dallas Humber, who was arrested in September. A
neo-Nazi channel that focuses on operational security noted that the Terrorgram
designation was another example of how the white supremacist online community
needed an alternative to Telegram that provides better encryption and security
features. Another accelerationist channel noted that it was better to be in
online group chats with individuals of one’s own nationality to avoid terrorist
designations or prosecution.
Pro-ISIS Group Issues Fundraising Warning
On January 14, the online pro-ISIS group al-Basair Media released a statement
condemning individuals who illegitimately claim to be fundraising on behalf of
ISIS. The post encouraged giving money to “prisoners in detention centers,
camps, and other harsh conditions” but also warned that not every entity online
that claims to be fundraising for these causes is authorized to do so. The
statement lamented a “lack of accountability” for some ISIS supporters who
claim to be crowdsourcing money for the group. The post advised that only those
officially connected to ISIS could fundraise and that individuals should
request proof before donating. The post also noted that money meant to go to
prisoners would have to go directly to an ISIS-affiliated individual who would
then distribute funds.
Pro-ISIS Al-Saqri Foundation Posts Bomb Making Guides on JustPaste.It
On January 15, CEP researchers located two online guides for making homemade
explosives posted on JustPaste.It from the pro-ISIS online group al-Saqri
Foundation. The guides included step-by-step instructions for synthesizing
homemade PETN and TNT. Both guides advised on the quantity of explosives
necessary to create an explosive suicide vest, and the PETN guide noted the
importance of collecting supplies without alerting chemical vendors. CEP
reported both guides to JustPaste.It on January 15, but they were still online
on January 21.
Graphic for Al-Saqri Foundation Homemade TNT guide. Screenshot taken on
January 15.
New Pro-ISIS Archive Website Launched
Al-Fustat, a new pro-ISIS archive site made by the group’s online supporters,
was located on January 13. The website, on the .onion domain and accessible via
the Tor browser, contains video, audio, and written propaganda from the
terrorist group, including a large quantity of previously released violent
videos, the group’s weekly newsletter, and bomb-making manuals. The page is
included in a list of ISIS websites maintained on the surface web and on the
dark web. The website also allows users to comment underneath content, allowing
for a bulletin board function.
Pro-ISIS Channels Continue to Encourage Lone-Actor Attacks
Telegram, RocketChat, and GemSpace channels have continued to call for
lone-actor attacks. An image released by the ISIS-K-linked online group
Al-Azaim Media on January 10 advocated for lone-actor attacks on a variety of
celebrations and public events in the U.S. and Europe, and, referencing the New
Orleans attack, urged, “don’t wait for a new year to take action.” A pro-ISIS
channel on the GemSpace platform reposted two previously released ISIS videos
on January 10 and 14 calling for lone-actor attacks. On January 13, CEP
researchers located a Telegram channel that reposted a pro-ISIS message
encouraging attacks on public spaces in North America, Europe, Australia, and
Russia using various means, including vehicles. On January 13, a pro-ISIS
RocketChat user encouraged spreading a specific ISIS video on social media,
initially released in July 2020, that called for lone attacks using all
possible means, including arson and vehicular attacks.
Head of Neo-Nazi Group Encourages Harassment of Federal Judge
On January 13, Christopher Pohlhaus, the leader of the neo-Nazi group Blood
Tribe, posted on X a photo of a federal judge, encouraging his followers to
make sure she received “all the pressure she deserves and more.” The post,
which received almost 7,000 views as of January 16, used a racial slur towards
the judge, who recentlyruled
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against another neofascist group, Patriot Front, in a civil suit regarding the
beating of a Black man in Boston. The leader of Patriot Front, Thomas Rosseau,
and other group members did not respond to the lawsuit, leading to a default
ruling in the case.
On January 4, Pohlhaus stated that Blood Tribe was increasing its activity on
the X platform, in a post that received over 2,000 views, and shared a link to
a recruitment e-mail address and video. At least two previous X accounts
belonging to Pohlhaus have been suspended from the platform for violating its
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researchers located 31 accounts on X affiliated with Blood Tribe.
Buy Me A Coffee Website Removes Blood Tribe Fundraiser
On January 14, CEP researchers located a fundraising campaign for the neo-Nazi
group Blood Tribe on the website Buy Me A Coffee. The campaign had three
financial backers who donated an unknown sum. Buy Me A Coffee removed the
campaign after CEP reported it.
Blood Tribe fundraiser on Buy Me A Coffee, before it was removed. Screenshot
taken on January 14.
Multiple Active Club Telegram Channels Advocate Mass Deportations
On January 16, six Telegram channels affiliated with the white supremacist
Active Club movement made posts advocating mass deportations and advising their
members to recruit for local chapters using a message of forced deportation. A
main Active Club channel shared posts from group chapters in California,
Tennessee, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and the Western U.S. All posts included
photos of stenciled graffiti with the slogan “mass deportations now,” often
accompanied by white power graffiti. A post from a Southern California chapter
stated that the group would “pressure the incoming administration” to carry out
deportations and advocated joining the group. An Arizona chapter invoked the
“Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.
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