(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 five accounts on Meta-owned Instagram responsible for spreading antisemitic and neo-Nazi propaganda, one of which belongs to the racist and antisemitic National Justice Party. The accounts posted propaganda videos, with one additionally sharing information on how to produce 3D-printed firearms.
On Telegram, CEP researchers located accounts spreading anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and antisemitic content following a stabbing attack of four toddlers and two adults in France. CEP also found a neo-Nazi accelerationist video on Telegram that endorsed acts of violence and contained photos glorifying the Charleston church shooter and the Poway synagogue attacker. The Nationalist Social Club (NSC) also called for increased propaganda campaigns.
In addition, CEP researchers located posts on 4chan that contained anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant statements and a post that advocated violence against African Americans and Jews. The latter included an approximate 45-second clip containing extreme violence taken from the May 2022 Buffalo terrorist attack video.
CEP researchers also identified a new website and corresponding social media channels for a Swedish chapter of the white supremacist active club movement, and a neo-Nazi accelerationist manual on the Internet Archive.
Finally, ISIS took credit for assassinating the Taliban-appointed governor in Badakhshan, Mawlawi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, through its Amaq News Agency. The pro-ISIS group, Qimam Electronic Foundation, published a list of programing language training applications on PasteThis.To, expanding on its efforts to instruct users on how to use encrypted apps and other secure channels to avoid surveillance.
White Supremacist and Neo-Nazi Content Located on Instagram
In a sample of content on Instagram located on June 7, CEP researchers found five accounts that posted content glorifying antisemitism, white supremacism, and neo-Nazi groups. Three profiles posted copies of the same video containing footage from Atomwaffen Division (AWD) propaganda videos. One of the accounts posted additional AWD compilation videos. An account with over 350 followers posted an AWD propaganda compilation video, antisemitic and racist content, advocated acts of violence and attacks on electrical infrastructure, and included a link for the sale of 3D printers in their bio. The same user posted about various 3D-printed firearms builds and posted a URL where firearms plans could be downloaded. CEP also located an account belonging to the racist and antisemitic National Justice Party. CEP reported all five accounts to Instagram on June 8. Four days later, one account had been removed by Instagram. An AWD compilation video, as well as other content that promoted violence and white supremacism remained on the social media site.
Scene from AWD compilation video on Instagram. Screenshot taken on June 8.
Post advertising a website that contains blueprint files for 3D printed firearms. The same Instagram account posted antisemitic and racist content, a pro-AWD compilation video and advocated acts of violence. Screenshot taken on June 8.
Online Extreme-Right Promotes Anti-Immigrant and Antisemitic Messages After Annecy, France Stabbing Attack
Online right-wing extremists, including white supremacists, made a variety of anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and antisemitic posts following an attack in an Annecy, France park on June 8 where a man with a knife stabbed four children and two adults. French authorities stated that the 31-year-old assailant, originally from Syria, had been denied asylum in France because he already had refugee status in Sweden.
Multiple accounts on Telegram, including members of white supremacist groups such as active clubs and users of imageboards on the surface and dark web, posted messages blaming Muslims for the attack or advocated joining white supremacist groups. French authorities stated that the assailant wore Christian religious symbols, and his ex-wife told French media that he was a Christian. It was unclear whether extreme right posters ignored this information and used the opportunity to push anti-Muslim propaganda or were unaware. A French prosecutor said the attacker was under investigation for attempted murder.
Users on Telegram spread footage of the attack paired with white supremacist slogans and blamed Jews for allegedly forcing immigration to Europe. Multiple users on 4chan posted anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant statements on the forum. A Twitter user posted approximately 10 seconds of violent footage from the Christchurch terrorist attack on the platform, glorifying anti-Muslim violence. The same account included a link to the Christchurch attack video on Mega.Nz in their bio. CEP reported the content to relevant national authorities.
Neo-Nazi Accelerationist Video Located that Advocates Violence
On June 6, CEP located a neo-Nazi accelerationist video posted on several Telegram channels that endorsed acts of violence. The footage contained screenshots of pages taken from an accelerationist manual originally released in June 2021. The video contained Telegram posts from previously deleted channels, advocated violence against Jews and Muslims, and contained photos glorifying the Charleston church shooter and the Poway synagogue attacker.
New Website for Swedish Active Club Located
CEP researchers located a website for a Swedish chapter of the white supremacist active club movement. The site consisted of a message stating that content would be added soon and links directing visitors to the group’s Telegram, Instagram, and TikTok pages. The website uses Cloudflare as its name server and Loopia AB as its registrar.
Website for Swedish Active Club. Screenshot taken on June 8.
Neo-Nazi Accelerationist Manual Located on the Internet Archive
On June 8, CEP researchers located a neo-Nazi accelerationist manual on the Internet Archive. The manual, originally released in July 2022, advocated for acts of terrorism, including attacks targeting infrastructure, law enforcement, politicians, people of color, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Latinos, and LGBTQ people. The text also offered bomb-making instructions and directions for live-streaming attacks to copy the Christchurch terrorist. Additional content provided advice on operations security, target selection, and conducting surveillance on targets. The book was uploaded on May 16, 2023.
Footage from Buffalo Attack Located on 4chan
On June 5, CEP researchers located a post from the same day on 4chan that advocated violence against African Americans and Jews. The post contained a fraudulent Black Lives Matter message and an approximate 45-second clip containing extreme violence taken from the May 2022 Buffalo terrorist attack video. The gunman, who pleaded guilty to state charges including terrorism and ten counts of murder as a hate crime, claimed he was inspired by browsing 4chan and seeing footage of the Christchurch terrorist attack on the website.
Nationalist Social Club Calls for Increased Activism Following Dismissal of Charges
On June 6 on Telegram, the Nationalist Social Club (NSC) called for increased propaganda campaigns following a New Hampshire judge dismissing trespassing charges against two group members. Two NSC members, Chris Hood, and Leo Cullinan, were charged by the New Hampshire attorney general’s office after hanging white supremacist banners on a highway overpass on July 30, 2022. On Telegram, NSC claimed that the group was victorious and expressed their hopes that others would increase the number of legal propaganda activities as a result. NSC raised over $15,000, allegedly for legal fees, on GiveSendGo.
ISIS Takes Credit for Killing Taliban Deputy Governor and Subsequent Funeral Attack
On June 6, ISIS took credit via the group’s Amaq Agency for killing the Taliban deputy governor of Badakhshan province, Mawlawi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, with a vehicle bomb in Faizabad. TOLOnews reported the deputy governor and his driver were killed, and six others were injured. The Amaq claim circulated on Telegram and RocketChat, stated that ISIS killed a Taliban police chief in Badakhshan in December in a similar car bombing.
On June 9, ISIS took credit for a suicide bombing targeting the memorial service for Ahmadi at a Faizabad mosque. The terrorist group claimed to have killed 20 and wounded at least 50 people in the attack, including a former provincial police chief and the head of a court.
Pro-ISIS Tech Group Posts List of Apps for Learning Programming Languages
On June 7, the pro-ISIS tech group Qimam Electronic Foundation (QEF) posted a list of apps on PasteThis.To for learning different programming languages. In 2023, QEF published instructions for using encrypted apps and guides for anti-phishing protection and warned about malware and password breaches.
Qimam Electronic Foundation logo.