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, CEP researchers located several
examples of pro-ISIS content on Facebook encouraging attacks in Europe. CEP
also located a post on RocketChat from a pro-ISIS group warning that messages
on Facebook and other social media platforms may expose users to law
enforcement or intelligence agencies.





<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>



Extremist Content Online: Pro-ISIS Content On Facebook Encourages Terror
Attacks In Europe



(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, CEP researchers located
several examples of pro-ISIS content on Facebook encouraging attacks in Europe.
CEP also located a post on RocketChat from a pro-ISIS group warning that
messages on Facebook and other social media platforms may expose users to law
enforcement or intelligence agencies.



In addition, CEP researchers located neo-Nazi content on YouTube, which
included an interview withRob Rundo
<[link removed]>, co-founder of the
Rise Above Movement, and another video that praised white supremacist
organizations and promoted the white genocide conspiracy theory.



On Telegram, several channels announced a coalition of neo-Nazi groups
organizing an antisemitic “National Day of Hate.” Separately, the founder of
the neo-Nazi groupThe Base <[link removed]>,
Rinaldo Nazzaro <[link removed]>,
encouraged his Telegram followers to intimidate anti-fascist activists at their
homes.



Lastly, CEP located multiple online discussions regarding the arrest of
Brandon Russell, the co-founder of theAtomwaffen Division
<[link removed]>
, and Sarah Beth Clendaniel for allegedly conspiring to attack energy
facilities. Content that CEP located included a video from the neo-Nazi James
Mason condemning the plot and warning about informers, a Telegram channel
affiliated with The Base that encouraged solo attacks, and the posting of an
accelerationist manual that encouraged similar attacks.



Pro-ISIS Content Located on Facebook Encouraging Terrorist Attacks in Europe



On February 8, CEP researchers located pro-ISIS content on Facebook that
encouraged attacks in Europe in response to the burning and the desecration of
a Quran in Sweden and the Netherlands. A video posted in a public group stated
that it was a duty for individuals to commit acts of terrorism and contained
previously released footage from attacks, including the 2020 Vienna attack, the
2016 Nice truck attack, and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack. The post also
included links to a pro-ISIS Telegram bot. The video had 36 likes or reactions
four days after it was posted. Two Facebook accounts were also located that
posted content from the pro-ISIS propaganda groups al-Battar and al-Taqwa Media
Foundations, including propaganda images and at least one video. The two
accounts employed hashtags being used by pro-ISIS social media users.



CEP reported the video and two accounts to Facebook on February 8. The video
was inaccessible within 24 hours. The two accounts were still online five days
later.



Pro-ISIS video on Facebook encouraging attacks. Screenshot taken on February 8.



Pro-ISIS Tech Group Warns on Facebook OpSec



On February 8, a pro-ISIS tech group on the RocketChat platform warned their
followers to exercise caution while using Facebook and other social media
platforms. The post stated that messages could contain links to malware or that
law enforcement or intelligence agencies could monitor individuals over time
using social media.



Neo-Nazi Content Located on YouTube



CEP researchers located two pieces of neo-Nazi content on YouTube. The first
video was an hour-and-a-half livestreamed interview withRob Rundo
<[link removed]>, the co-founder of
the Rise Above Movement and a white supremacist influencer. In the video, Rundo
spoke about his video propaganda group, stating that they recruit for the
active club movement by focusing on topics such as “nationalism, brotherhood,
(and) comradery” to portray a clean and positive counterculture to normalize
fascism. The interview host stated that “abstract expressionism…a Jewish
Marxist concept” would lead to the “destruction of Western civilization.” The
host also played videos during the livestream from an Odysee channel for
Rundo’s video propaganda unit. Among the videos played on YouTube was a trailer
for a video for a white supremacist MMA event that had previously been removed
from YouTube.



YouTube channels affiliated with Rundo and the video group have previously
been removed from the platform. The livestream was broadcast on YouTube on
February 6 and had almost 600 views three days later and dozens of comments in
the livestream chat, including links to active club propaganda. The
livestreamer had over 2,100 subscribers on February 9.



CEP also located another white supremacist livestream broadcast on the
platform on February 2 from a different creator, with over 650 views on
February 9. In the video, the livestreamer promoted the white genocide
conspiracy theory, praised the Aryan Nations and theKu Klux Klan
<[link removed]>, and stated that
“the white working class” was being destroyed by drug abuse and “invaders from
Central America.” The same livestreamer had a previous video recently removed
from the platform for violating their Community Guidelines.



CEP reported both videos to YouTube, but they were still online five days
later.



Clip from a livestreamed interview with Rob Rundo. The video included a video
advertising a white supremacist MMA event that was previously removed from
YouTube.



Coalition of Neo-Nazi Groups Promotes Antisemitic “National Day of Hate”



On Telegram, a coalition of neo-Nazi groups announced their plan for an
antisemitic “National Day of Hate” in late February, to consist of “banner
drops, stickers, fliers and graffiti.” The post identifies the planned
participants as belonging to active clubs in Iowa and California, a small New
York neo-Nazi group, and theNational Socialist Movement
<[link removed]>. The
post called Jews “the one true enemy of the American people,” invited other
white supremacist groups to get involved, and encouraged sending photos and
videos of antisemitic rallies and banner drops to a Telegram account allegedly
for the leader of the Iowa active club.



A video accompanying the post contained footage of previous banner drops and
small rallies by the four groups. Multiple white supremacist groups and
internet personalities previously heldcoordinated
<[link removed]>
racist banner drops on the anniversary of the killing of George Floyd in 2021,
in which they encouraged coverage by local news media.



Rinaldo Nazzaro, Founder of the Base, Encourages Threatening Anti-Fascist
Activists



In a Telegram post on February 7, Rinaldo Nazzaro
<[link removed]>, the founder of
the neo-Nazi groupThe Base <[link removed]>,
encouraged neo-Nazis show up at the homes of anti-fascist activists to
intimidate them. The post was responding to a banner drop by anti-fascist
activists that allegedly identified the residence of a member of the neo-Nazi
groupNationalist Social Club
<[link removed]>.



A former leader of The Base, Justen Watkins, is serving
<[link removed]>
a prison term for felony gang membership related to intimidating a Michigan
family after appearing outside their house, mistaking it for the home of an
anti-fascist podcaster. Watkins and another member of The Base doxed the family
online, took photographs of their house, and appeared on their porch wearing
masks.



Three members of The Base were arrested in Georgia in January 2020 and found
guilty
<[link removed]>
of plotting to murder a couple they accused of being antifa activists in their
home.



White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis Advise Stronger Operations Security or Not
Committing Illegal Acts in Response to Arrest of Brandon Russell and Sarah Beth
Clendaniel



Following the arrest
<[link removed]>
of Sarah Beth Clendaniel andAtomwaffen Division
<[link removed]>
co-founder Brandon Russell for conspiracy to destroy electrical substations in
Baltimore, white supremacists and neo-Nazis reacted by advocating for improved
operations security and, in limited cases, advised not to commit illegal acts.



In a video released on February 7, James Mason
<[link removed]>, who identified
himself as a “friend” of Russell, stated that he was “stunned” and that the
alleged attack was a “worthless action.” Mason went on to accuse other white
supremacists of informing on Russell. Mason encouraged viewers not to engage in
or discuss criminal acts.



A blog on a website affiliated with Mason and a member of the National
Socialist Order (NSO) who had beendisavowed
<[link removed]>
by others in the group, stopped short of condemning violence, stating that
individuals should use their “own judgment” regarding how to act. The blog
claimed that the best option was to infiltrate society and stay quiet.



A Telegram channel affiliated with The Base praised Russell and Clendaniel but
stated that attacks committed by solo individuals were better to ensure
secrecy. Users of two neo-Nazi Telegram chats dedicated to operations security
and a podcast warned that law enforcement employs confidential human sources
and that individuals should be careful about who they speak to. Multiple users
of one of the chats spoke about Russell and Clendaniel positively, stating that
it was a “sad day” and speculating on the amount of damage had the attack been
successful. Users of another chat posted a neo-Nazi accelerationistmanual
<[link removed]>
originally released in June 2022 that encouraged attacks on electrical
substations.



Multiple users of 4chan’s /pol board and another imageboard alleged that the
attack was a setup from the beginning. Two 4chan users suggested what they
claimed were alternate ways to disrupt electrical substations.



###





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