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, the ISIS-K-linked propaganda group al-Azaim Media released
issue 43 of the Voice of Khorasan web magazine. A feature article compared the
Telegram communications app with similar services and recommended the continued
use of Telegram despite a September 2024 change in the platform’s terms of
service.
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ISIS-K-Linked Voice of Khorasan Web Magazine Recommends Use of Telegram
Communications App Despite Terms of Service Change, U.S. White Supremacist
Groups Continue to Promote Mass Deportations
(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, the ISIS-K-linked propaganda group
al-Azaim Media released issue 43 of theVoice of Khorasan web magazine. A
feature article compared the Telegram communications app with similar services
and recommended the continued use of Telegram despite a September 2024 change
in the platform’s terms of service.
On Telegram, U.S. white supremacist groups continued to spread recruitment
messages advocating for mass deportations. On several online platforms, ISIS
supporters continued to celebrate the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. On
January 26, a new pro-ISIS group released a German-language pamphlet calling
for attacks in the West. CEP researchers also located three uploads on
JustPaste.It from the pro-ISIS al-Saqri Foundation—two containing instructions
for making homemade explosives, and one post containing a guide for
synthesizing botulism toxin. The Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Hurras al-Din
announced that they were disbanding. Finally, a web store selling neo-Nazi
T-shirts was located on the Teepublic e-commerce platform.
Issue 43 of ISIS-K-Linked English Language Web Magazine Released
On January 26, ISIS-K-linked al-Azaim Media released issue 43 of their web
magazineVoice of Khorasan. The first article called for obedience to ISIS’s
leader and stated that fighting against the governments of Pakistan, Iran, and
Afghanistan was mandatory because they enforce secular and not religious law
and have instituted democratic systems. A large article analyzed Telegram’s
privacy and security features, including end-to-end encryption and data
storage, in light of the platform’s policy changes in September 2024. Despite
Telegram turning over certain information to government officials, the article
concluded that the communications app was still a good choice as long as added
security features, such as a virtual private network (VPN), were used. The
article also included a section on avoiding account deletion, as well as
information on Signal, Threema, WhatsApp, RocketChat, and Facebook Messenger.
Other articles in issue 43 included one calling the Los Angeles-area wildfires
divine punishment for Israel’s attack on Gaza and a story broadcast initially
on ISIS’s al-Bayan radio about an individual from Tunisia who joined ISIS. The
magazine included a wallet address for donating Monero, a privacy-focused
cryptocurrency. Also, it included infographics calling for acts of terrorism
using whatever means were available and condemned the Syrian government of
Ahmed al-Sharaa (a.k.a. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani).
The web magazine was located on the Telegram, RocketChat, and Gem Space
communications platforms. CEP reported downloadable links to GoFile.Io and the
Internet Archive. GoFile.Io removed the links; the Internet Archive removed
access to the file.
Table comparing different communications platforms from Voice of Khorasan
issue 43. Screenshot taken February 3.
White Supremacists on Telegram Continue to Advocate for Mass Deportations
The week of January 26 to February 1, white supremacists on Telegram and other
online platforms continued to advocate for mass deportations in the U.S. Two
California chapters of the white supremacist Active Club movement posted photos
or video of demonstrations held in Sacramento and Upland, calling for extensive
deportations. A message posted with the video from the January 25 Sacramento
flash mob-style demonstration noted that the movement would not stop until
“every single illegal alien is physically removed from the United States.” It
encouraged those who agreed with the message to join their group.
On January 24, the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe announced on Telegram and X that
they would hold a rally in the Great Lakes region in February to protest H-1B
visas. A rival neo-Nazi group announced on January 28 that the Blood Tribe
rally was planned for Lansing, Michigan. However, this has not been confirmed.
Multiple white supremacist channels and chat users on Telegram praised the
prospect of mass deportations and, in some cases, encouraged their followers to
report individuals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using an
official phone number or online tip forum. A channel dedicated to 3D-printed
firearms that has previously endorsed acts of violence shared a post expressing
excitement over the possibility of bounty hunter programs to detain migrants.
Members of a Telegram chat dedicated to a neo-Nazi musician declared
approvingly that they had seen fewer Latinos in their area. Several other
channels, including one that promotes the neo-Nazi accelerationist group Injekt
Division, shared a video that showed a man being taken into custody and tasered
by Border Patrol officers. The former leader of the neo-Nazi group Nationalist
Social Club, Chris Hood, recommended on January 24 that his followers send fake
reports of law enforcement activity to nonprofits that assist undocumented
immigrants.
ISIS Online Supporters Continue to Celebrate New Orleans Attack
The week of January 26 to February 1, online ISIS supporters continued to
celebrate the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, committed by an individual
in the name of the terrorist group. On January 30, the ISIS-K-linked al-Azaim
Media group released two online posters quoting issue 477 of ISIS’sal-Naba
newsletter, praising those who translate and spread the group’s propaganda as
well as those who carry out terrorist attacks. Users in a pro-ISIS chat on the
Element platform shared photos of the attacker and praised him.
ISIS-K-linked al-Azaim Media poster celebrating the New Orleans New Year’s Day
attack. Screenshot taken on January 30.
New German Language Pro-ISIS Pamphlet Released
A new German-language pro-ISIS pamphlet was released on January 26. The text,
titled “Are You Still Sitting?” condemned inaction and stated that fighting was
obligatory. The pamphlet claimed that it was unfair to do nothing and criticize
ISIS, calling instead for acts of violence. The front and back cover photos
showed Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on October 9, 2023. The media group that
created the pamphlet, al-Saif Media, announced its creation on RocketChat on
January 21 and stated that its mission is to translate ISIS content into German
and to encourage terrorist attacks in the West. The channel includes
translations of ISIS’sal-Naba newsletter and Nashir news posts into German.
Pro-ISIS Explosives Guides, Directions for Making Botulism Toxin Located on
JustPaste.It
CEP researchers located two guides for making homemade explosives on
JustPaste.It on January 27 and 29, and instructions for creating botulism toxin
on January 31. The online pro-ISIS group al-Saqri Foundation made all three
uploads. The first guide contained instructions for synthesizing a shapable
explosive from match heads and motor oil. The second upload included
instructions for making the explosive TATP and recommended a specific type of
cleaning product to purchase to evade the attention of authorities. The last
upload, on January 31, included instructions for creating and purifying
botulism toxin and included advice for using it as a weapon. JustPaste.It
removed all three guides after CEP reported them.
Image from Al-Saqri Foundation TATP guide. Screenshot taken on January 29.
Al-Qaeda Affiliate Hurras al-Din Announces Disbandment
On January 28, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Hurras al-Din
<[link removed]> announced that it was
disbanding. The statement noted that the organization received orders to
dissolve from al-Qaeda’s central command. The two-page declaration noted that
Syria had entered a new phase and called on the current government to implement
religious law and be prepared to fight internal or external opponents. On
January 30, U.S. Central Commandannounced
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that they had killed a senior Hurras al-Din operative in an airstrike in
Northwest Syria.
Hurras al-Din logo. Screenshot taken from January 28 statement.
Neo-Nazi T-Shirt Store Located on TeePublic
On January 31, CEP reported a web store on the print-on-demand platform
TeePublic. The web shop sold a variety of shirts featuring neo-Nazi logos and
slogans. A Telegram channel associated with the store had over 1,000
subscribers and posted a large quantity of racist and antisemitic content.
TeePublic’sContent Standards
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prohibit using the service to sell products that promote hate speech or
racism. The store was not removed by February 3.
Neo-Nazi t-shirt for sale on TeePublic. Screenshot taken on January 31.
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