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: Buffalo Massacre Gunman’s Video And Alleged
Manifesto Spread Widely Online

 

(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. The video made by the perpetrator of
the Buffalo racist massacre and his alleged manifesto were widely spread online
and supported, amplified, or debated by different parts of the extreme and
far-right. Also, last week, a neo-Nazi periodical was sold on both Amazon and
Barnes & Noble’s websites. On the bulletin board-style website JustPaste.It, a
pro-ISIS group posted a guide for making homemade explosives. Neo-Nazis posted
information on making explosives in a Telegram chat. In addition, on Telegram,
a channel connected to the neo-Nazi Nationalist Social Club posted the work
email addresses and phone numbers of public-school employees in Massachusetts.
Lastly, on RocketChat the admin of a pro-ISIS chat room warned users that
group's conversations in Telegram were not encrypted.

 

Buffalo Gunman’s Video and Alleged Manifesto Spread Widely Online

 

On May 14, a Conklin, New York, man allegedly murdered 10 people and injured
three others in an attack targeting African Americans at a Buffalo, New York
grocery store. The accused gunman, who was arrested at the scene, livestreamed
part of his attack on the website Twitch and allegedly released a manifesto
that quickly spread online. The document,approximately
<[link removed]>
two-thirds of which was plagiarized from the Christchurch terrorist’s
manifesto, identified the author as a white supremacist and antisemite who
believes in thegreat replacement theory
<[link removed]>. The author
also stated that 4chan and white supremacist websites deeply inspired him but
that the Christchurch terrorist’s livestreamed attack in March 2019 served as
his inspiration and encouraged him to seek out additional white supremacist
content.

 

The document used accelerationist rhetoric and was written to encourage
additional attacks and urged future violence. The manifesto also contained
tactical information, including information and analysis of the weapons and
protective equipment used to assist future attackers. The manifesto also
contained several memes, cartoons, and other racist and antisemitic content
that frequently appear on 4chan, Telegram, and other online refuges of the far
and extreme right. Similar to other manifestos written by white supremacist
murderers, parts of the document may seek to mislead or troll readers.

 

White supremacists posted the manifesto on Telegram and Catbox.Moe, which has
previously refused to remove content associated with white supremacist
terrorist attacks. Versions of the manifesto posted on DocDroid and the
Internet Archive were removed by those platforms.

 

Twitch cut off the video livestream less than two minutes after the gunman
began his attack, almost seven minutes total into the livestream. Before the
beginning of the attack, firearms are visible multiple times in the video. The
gunman shot at least eight people before Twitch cut off the livestream. The
video was spread by white supremacist chats and channels on Telegram, and links
and clips were posted on Facebook. Some video content was on Facebook fornine
hours
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. The video was also posted on Vimeo, BitChute, AnonFiles, andStreamable
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, but not before receiving over three million views on the latter video
streaming site. CEP reported links to the video and video clips on Twitter,
video clips were still accessible five and a half hours later.

 

Extreme and Far-Right Celebrate Buffalo Attack

 

Dozens of white supremacist Telegram channels celebrated the Buffalo attack
and glorified the attacker. Channel admins posted the manifesto and video and
encouraged other acts of violence. Multiple channels posted content endorsing
the great replacement theory, including several channels that stated that they
did not support the attack but still wanted to promote the conspiracy theory.

 

In a video posted on the Odysee video streaming platform, the Australian
neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell stated that violence was currently an improper tactic
but that attacks should be viewed as “omens” as part of a system accelerating
towards collapse and eventual white supremacist rule.

 

4chan users posted multiple links to the attack video and manifesto and
encouraged its further spread. Multiple other users posted comments glorifying
the attacker, complaining that the large number of users slowed their video
downloads and mocked victims using racist language. Some 4chan users alleged
that the U.S. government committed the attack.

 

A media group on Telegram supportive of the Proud Boys with over 16,000
followers posted the Buffalo attacker’s manifesto. Comments affiliated with the
post included racist and antisemitic content. Proud Boys Telegram channels
affiliated with chapters in Missouri, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest sought
to downplay the Buffalo attack, posted white supremacist and antisemitic
messages, claimed that violence committed by non-whites was worse, and
suggested that the attack was a false flag.

 

Neo-Nazi Periodical Sold by Amazon and Barnes & Noble

 

CEP located a neo-Nazi periodical sold by Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The most
recent issue of the magazine, released on April 20, 2022, contains positive
articles about the Nordic Resistance Movement
<[link removed]>,
including a contribution by Simon Lindberg
<[link removed]>, head of the
group’s Swedish branch and one of its leading propagandists. The magazine’s
editors describe themselves as white nationalists who wish to support
“activists.”

 

Amazon’s Content Guideline for Books
<[link removed]> 
prohibits <[link removed]> the
sale of material used to “promote intolerance based on race, religion, and
sexual orientation.” Barnes & Noble’s Content Policy
<[link removed]> prohibits material that
“encourages intolerance, terrorism, hate, racism or violence.”

 

Neither Amazon nor Barnes & Noble removed the magazine six days after CEP
reported it.

 

Pro-ISIS Explosives Guide Located on JustPaste.It

 

On May 11, CEP researchers located a guide for making homemade explosives on
the bulletin board style website JustPaste.It. The manual was created by the
pro-ISIS group al-Saqri Foundation, which has published manuals over several
years on the manufacture and use of explosives, poisons, and other weaponry.
The guide was uploaded to the site on May 11 but was removed after CEP reported
it to JustPaste.It.



Image from pro-ISIS explosives manual located on JustPaste.It, May 11.

 

Users of Neo-Nazi Telegram Chat Share Information on Explosives

 

CEP researchers located a post in a neo-Nazi Telegram chat that consisted of
instructions for making a homemade explosive. The post advised that all items
should be purchased “with cash and while wearing a face mask.” The same message
also offered tips on synthesis and transport. The same user also posted advice
regarding committing arson and the homemade manufacture of firearm suppressors.

 

New England Neo-Nazi Group Encourages Supporters to Complain to Massachusetts
Public School

 

On May 9, a Telegram channel affiliated with the neo-Nazi Nationalist Social
Club <[link removed]>
 (NSC) posted the work email addresses and phone numbers of employees of a
public school in Massachusetts. The channel encouraged the group’s members and
supporters to make complaints against a kindergarten teacher that the channel
accused of being “anti-white.” NSC members have previously
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 protested against critical race theory in New Hampshire and have made minor 
attempts
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 to appeal to individuals with more mainstream political views. 

 

Pro-ISIS Users Share Information on Creation of Telegram Accounts

 

On May 10, the admin of a pro-ISIS RocketChat room dedicated to information
security warned other users that group conversations in Telegram are not
encrypted and that users should use a VPN. The admin stated that it was
essential to use a VPN when using Telegram with a phone number given by another
individual. The account also warned that Telegram saves information about its
users, such as device type and location.

 

On May 11, a Telegram user offered members of a chat phone numbers to create
additional Telegram accounts. The user stated that to receive phone numbers,
users would have to provide proof of a pledge of allegiance toISIS
<[link removed]>. The same user offered to
provide advice on internet technology.

 

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