The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by
extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit fol
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Extremist Content Online: ISIS Encouraging Violence With ‘Available Means’
(New York, N.Y.) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the
methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms
to recruit followers and incite violence. Last week, ISIS released a new video
through the group’s Al Hayat Media Center on multiple websites and platforms
calling for attacks using vehicles, knives, and by committing arson.
Additionally, former members of the Atomwaffen Division (AWD) announced the
creation of an AWD successor group called the National Socialist Order (NSO).
Also, after going dark in January, the accelerationist neo-Nazi group The Base
reemerged on Telegram to promote numerous images and short videos of group
members training with firearm and practicing martial arts.
In addition, CEP researchers identified a video game in development that
encourages violence and vehicular attacks against Black Lives Matter activists.
Finally, users of an 8chan successor website called for targeted acts of
violence to create a second civil war, and a notorious neo-Nazi accelerationist
Telegram channel that promotes violence returned to the platform after being
removed on June 24.
New ISIS Video Released on Multiple Websites
On July 26, ISIS released a new video in Arabic and English via the group’s Al
Hayat Media Center calling for terrorist attacks. The video advises the viewer
not to focus on obtaining firearms or explosives, but instead to use available
means such as vehicles, knives, or fire to commit arson. The video specifically
encouraged committing arson, including wildfires and setting fires to
agriculture due to the economic damage caused by mass fires and the ease in
committing the attack.
Links to the video were spread on RocketChat, PasteThis.To, and Hoop. The
video was posted directly on Telegram and an ISIS website. The video was also
posted to at least 19 other websites: the Internet Archive, Yadi.Sk, Pc.Cd,
File.Fm, Streamable, Top4top, Ok.Ru, Mail.Ru, the Microsoft One Drive,
NextCloud, Dropapk.To, Mediafire, Zupload, Pixeldrain, Download.Gg, Ufile.Io,
Zippyshare, Secufiles.Com, and Dropbox. Approximately four days later, the
video was still available on seven websites: the Internet Archive, File.Fm,
NextCloud, Dropapk.To, Mediafire, Zupload, and Ufile.Io.
ISIS video “Incite the Believers” on the Internet Archive, approximately four
days after it was uploaded.
Atomwaffen Division Successor Group, National Socialist Order, Announces
Formation
On July 25, former members of the Atomwaffen Division
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(AWD) announced that they were creating a new group, the National Socialist
Order (NSO). AWD allegedly disbanded in March 2020, and NSO claims to be
picking up the group’s work where it ended. In a statement on awebsite
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that promotes the work of neo-NaziJames Mason
<[link removed]>, NSO
stated that AWD had been weakened by arrests of their leadership in February,
and that the American group disbanded as a result. The NSO release also said
that due to decentralization, AWD lacked ideological consistency and that the
group made errors. In March, it was reported that the U.S. would designate a
foreign white supremacist group as a terrorist organization, and it was rumored
that AWD branches were beingconsidered
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. The U.S. Department of Statedesignated
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the white supremacist group Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) and its leaders as
Specially Designated Global Terrorists in April.
NSO spreads propaganda and recruits on Telegram and uses a Protonmail email
address. The group praises Hitler and calls for violence against people of
color, Jews, anti-fascists, and others. In a video posted to BitChute, NSO
stated that they are based in the U.S., but support violent national socialists
worldwide. Among other proclamations, NSO has stated that they are opposed to
political organizing, expressed interest in holding territory, suggested that
they will not condemn anyone who violently attacks the government or society,
and indicated that their members are armed.
Accelerationist Neo-Nazi Group The Base Reappears
CEP researchers located a Telegram channel belonging to the neo-Nazi group The
Base <[link removed]>. The accelerationist
group has kept a low profile since January when seven of their alleged members
inWisconsin
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,Maryland
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, andGeorgia
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were arrested on charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, being
members of a criminal gang, vandalizing a synagogue, and firearm-related
crimes. In an attempt to start a civil war, group members in Maryland were
alleged
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to have sought to attack a pro-Second Amendment rally in Richmond, Virginia.
In January, the group’s secretive leader wasrevealed
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to be New Jersey native Rinaldo Nazzaro, and that he currently resides in St.
Petersburg, Russia. A Telegram channel previously used by the group was taken
over by an anti-fascist activist infiltrator in the same month.
The new Telegram channel contains numerous images and short videos of group
members training with firearms, practicing martial arts, and conducting drills
in a variety of outdoor environments. The national or international extent of
the group is unclear after January; however, in late July, the channel alleged
to have members in the Netherlands. Several men appearing in photos on the
channel were present at an anti-Black Lives Matter demonstration in Big Axe,
Michigan, in early June.
The channel has mentioned a change in leadership of The Base. The group has
not specifically mentioned Nazzaro, his whereabouts in Russia, or his alleged
background <[link removed]> in intelligence or
military contracting. The group has previously held training camps, and trained
in small unit tactics, shared information on making explosives, and discussed
committing acts of extremist violence.
Video Game Encouraging Violence Against Black Lives Matter Activists Located
CEP researchers located a video game in development where the player runs over
Black Lives Matter protestors with a vehicle. There have been at least66 cases
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in the U.S. of individuals using their cars as weapons since May 25 to target
demonstrators. A trailer on the game website also encourages violence against
Black Lives Matter activists.
The game creators have advertised on a variety of platforms, including a page
on Gab, an 8chan successor website, and white supremacist Telegram channels.
The game also has a website that uses Tucows as its registrar and the services
of the web anonymity company Njalla. The game creator accepts the Monero
cryptocurrency on his or her website.
Users of 8chan Successor Website Call for Violence
Numerous posts were located this week on the main 8chan successor website
calling for targeted acts of violence to create a second civil war. Posts
praised mass shooters, called for genocide, and supported the creation of a
white ethno-state. Some commenters stated that the system would collapse on its
own and that it would not require participation from forum members.
Notorious Neo-Nazi Accelerationist Telegram Channel Returns to Platform After
Recent Deletion
A Telegram channel that promotes accelerationist neo-Nazi violence returned to
the communications app after beingdeleted
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by the platform on June 24. The channel has routinely encouraged its
subscribers to build armed networks and commit terrorist attacks against the
government, people of color, the LGBTQ community, Jews, and others. The channel
has previously posted significant quantities of content from theAtomwaffen
Division
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andThe Base <[link removed]>, and has praised
theOrder of Nine Angles
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Sonnenkrieg Division
<[link removed]>. The channel
has been one of the larger neo-Nazi channels on Telegram, serving as a hub for
violent propaganda. The channel had over 5,900 members when it was deleted by
Telegram in June. The new channel had over 650 subscribers on July 30.
The removal of approximately ten neo-Nazi and white supremacist Telegram
channels occurred following thearrest
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of a U.S. Army soldier, Ethan Melzer, for allegedly plotting a terrorist
attack against his unit. Melzer was reportedly in contact with individuals in
the Order of Nine Angles and another neo-Nazi group through unnamed electronic
means. Telegram has not commented on the removal of neo-Nazi and white
supremacist accounts.
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