Terrorgram#Sanctification
{{Short description|Network of neo-fascist Telegram channels}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
Image:Terrorgram logo.svg insignia{{Cite web |date=25 April 2024 |title=Terrorgram |url=https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/terrorgram |work=Anti-Defamation League}}]]
Terrorgram (sometimes stylised in all caps) is a far-right, decentralized network of Telegram channels and accounts that subscribe to or promote militant accelerationism. Terrorgram channels are neo-fascist in ideology, and regularly share instructions and manuals on how to carry out hate crimes, mass shootings and target critical infrastructure and even lists of potential targets. Terrorgram is a key communications forum for individuals and networks attached to Atomwaffen Division, The Base, and other explicit militant accelerationist groups.
Influenced by the defunct neo-Nazi web forum Iron March, Terrorgram has been linked to several terrorist attacks. It promotes "Saints culture", which promotes terrorist attacks and their perpetrators as "saints" or "martyrs". It has been proscribed as a terrorist organization and faces terrorist sanctions from Australia, the United States Department of State, and the United Kingdom.
Origins and history
Terrorgram has gone through several different phases. Terrorgram was influenced by the defunct neo-Nazi web forum Iron March, which popularised the book Siege by American neo-Nazi James Mason, a work promoting the establishment of underground, leaderless terrorist cells, working towards destabilising society and ushering in revolution.{{Cite news |url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/chapter/the-terrorgram-network-a-spiral-towards-bloodshed/ |work=Hope Not Hate |title=The Terrorgram Network: A Spiral Towards Bloodshed|date=23 November 2022}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/hope-not-hate-telegram-nazis |magazine=Wired |title=How Telegram became a safe haven for pro-terror Nazis |date=23 November 2022}} Terrorgram grew in large part from the defunct Iron March and Fascist Forge, and it was the principal successor to Iron March as Fascist Forge failed to find an audience.{{sfn|Hughes|Jones|Amarasingam|2022|p=1002}}
The far-right scene on Telegram was not prominent before March 2019, though some far-right groups had moved to Telegram by that point, among them the Atomwaffen Division, Generation Identity, and the Proud Boys.{{sfn|Katz|2022|pp=177–178}} Following the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, 8chan users feared a crackdown, and some suggested moving to Telegram. Neo-Nazi groups on Telegram rapidly increased in membership; after Christchurch, between May and October 2019, membership in neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups on Telegram went up 120%, including previously stagnant channels, while many new ones were created.{{sfn|Katz|2022|pp=173, 178}}{{sfn|Macklin|2022|p=225}}
In 2021, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), an international think-tank, exposed more than 200 neo-Nazi pro-terrorism Telegram channels that make up the Terrorgram network, many of which contained instructions for building weapons and bombs.{{Cite news |date=23 November 2022 |title=Telegram Is Leaving a Terrorist Bomb-Making Channel Online |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/telegram-is-leaving-a-terrorist-bomb-making-channel-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107112313/https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdxnp/telegram-is-leaving-a-terrorist-bomb-making-channel-online |archive-date=7 November 2023 |access-date=23 November 2022 |work=Vice News}}{{Cite news |date=23 November 2022 |title=Telegram blocks 'dozens' of hardcore hate channels |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/13/telegram-channels-banned-violent-threats-capitol/?guccounter=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610215529/https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/13/telegram-channels-banned-violent-threats-capitol/?guccounter=1 |archive-date=10 June 2023 |access-date=23 November 2022 |work=TechCrunch}} Telegram shadowbans channels promoting violence, but according to Southern Poverty Law Center such channels grew exponentially despite Telegram's policing, one accelerationist channel boasting 16,552 followers.{{Cite web |date=18 October 2024 |title=How an encrypted messaging platform is changing extremist movements |url=https://www.splcenter.org/news/2021/02/16/how-encrypted-messaging-platform-changing-extremist-movements |work=Southern Poverty Law Center}}
On 8 December 2023, two Ontario men were charged with making propaganda for Terrorgram and for terrorism offenses.{{Cite news |date=8 December 2023 |title=Two Ontario men arrested on Terrorism charges |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/two-ontario-men-arrested-terrorism-140000293.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830111500/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/two-ontario-men-arrested-terrorism-140000293.html |archive-date=30 August 2024 |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=Yahoo}} On September 9, 2024, U.S. prosecutors in California charged Dallas Erin Humber, 34, and Matthew Robert Allison, 37, accused of leading the "Terrorgram" network with soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of Federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. If convicted Humber and Allison each face a maximum penalty of 220 years in prison.{{Cite web |date=11 September 2024 |title=Leaders of Transnational Terrorist Group Charged with Soliciting Hate Crimes, Soliciting the Murder of Federal Officials, and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leaders-transnational-terrorist-group-charged-soliciting-hate-crimes-soliciting-murder |work=justice.gov}} New Jersey man Andrew Takhistov is charged with plotting an attack on energy infrastructure and a synagogue. Takhistov stated that he was involved in the production of Terrorgram propaganda.{{Cite magazine |date=14 September 2024 |title='Terrorgram' Charges Show US Has Had Tools to Crack Down on Far-Right Terrorism All Along |url=https://www.wired.com/story/terrorgram-collective-indictments/ |magazine=Wired}} As of February 2025, there are over two dozen Terrorgram cases around the world. In the United States Brandon Russell and Sarah Beth Clandaniel were charged with conspiring to bomb the electric infrastructure of Baltimore to cause a blackout. Both were subsequently convicted. Russell and Clandaniel were active in Terrorgram.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-11 |title=Bomb-plot trial of neo-Nazi leader pulls back veil on US extremist networks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/brandon-russell-neo-nazi-bomb-plot-trial |work=The Guardian |location=London |language=en-GB}} A 29-year-old man from Ishøj, Denmark was arrested on December 9, 2024 and charged with nine counts of inciting terrorism for his promotion of Terrorgram material. The man also shared a communique from Brandon Russell, the founder of the terror group Atomwaffen.{{Cite news |date=11 December 2024 |title=Mand sigtet for at fremme terrorvirksomhed på Telegram |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/indland/mand-sigtet-for-at-fremme-terrorvirksomhed-paa-telegram |work=Berlingske}}
Terrorgram was allegedly behind a plot to kill Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp in Australia in 2024, when a man was intercepted near Crakanthorp's office with weapons.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-27/terrorgram-linked-to-alleged-plot-to-kill-labor-politician/105469638|work=abc.net.au|title=Terrorgram linked to alleged plot to kill Labor politician
|date=27 June 2025}} A Tennessee man has been charged in 2025 with the arson of Highlander Research and Education Center involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The offices were destroyed in the blaze along with decades of archives and artifacts. The man had previously been convicted in 2019 for burning down an adult video store. He discussed his attacks in accelerationist neo-Nazi channels.{{cite web|url=https://observatorioterrorismo.com/analisis/far-right-violence-and-terrorism-may-2025/|work=Observatorio Terrorismo|title=Far-right violence and terrorism – May 2025|date=8 July 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/a-field-guide-to-accelerationism-white-supremacist-groups-using-violence-to-spur-race-war-and-create-social-chaos-255699|work=The Conversation (website)|title=A field guide to ‘accelerationism’: White supremacist groups using violence to spur race war and create social chaos|date=8 July 2025}} A 24-year-old man was indicted in Northern California in July 2025 for "eight counts of conspiracy, soliciting the murder of federal officials, doxing federal officials and interstate threatening communications". The man was allegedly a member of the Terrorgram and conspired with fellow users to assassinate US officials.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/member-white-supremacist-group-charged-143450302.html|work=Yahoo News|date=10 July 2025|title=Member of white supremacist group charged in alleged plot to solicit murder of 'high-value targets'}}
Ideology and organization
Terrorgram is decentralized and its channels promote far-right, neo-fascist ideology.{{Cite web |date=11 February 2025 |title=Rise in vigilante attacks in US highlight growing online DIY terrorism resources |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/12/vigilante-attacks-terrorism-new-orleans |work=The Guardian}}{{sfn|Hughes|Jones|Amarasingam|2022|p=1002}} Some channels are ecofascist in nature, promoting an anti-human ideology, though this is only a subset and most are more traditionally far-right.{{sfn|Hughes|Jones|Amarasingam|2022|pp=1003, 1010}} The terminology "Terrorgram" was only sometimes used by the members and the terminology was not universal.{{sfn|Hughes|Jones|Amarasingam|2022|p=1003}} Members share violent and snuff videos.{{sfn|O'Connor|2020|pp=81–82}}
Aesthetics in media produced by the community are often vaporwave or fashwave, with neon colors juxtaposed with classical images.{{sfn|O'Connor|2020|p=81}}{{sfn|Hughes|Jones|Amarasingam|2022|p=1010}} "Terrorwave", which developed in part due to Iron March, features graphics rendered in red, white and black. The style often incorporates images of historical fascists, terrorists or paramilitaries wearing skull masks, with esoteric far-right symbols and simplistic slogans, such as "TRAITORS WILL HANG" and "RAPE THE POLICE". There is also a strong strain of esotericism and occultism woven into Terrorgram propaganda, lending a mystic sheen to the movement. Esoteric Hitlerism is frequently referenced.
Calls to violence are common,{{sfn|Hughes|Jones|Amarasingam|2022|p=1014}} and channels regularly share instructions and manuals on how to carry out hate crimes, mass shootings and target critical infrastructure and even lists of potential targets. Terrorgram is a key communications forum for individuals and networks attached to Atomwaffen Division, The Base, and other explicit militant accelerationist groups. White supremacist works Siege and The Turner Diaries are both commonly spread within the channels. The 2019 novella Harassment Architecture written by Mike Ma is popular with and was widely distributed by Terrorgram.{{sfn|O'Connor|2020|p=80}}{{sfn|Young|Boucher|2024|p=12}} Some channels are "book clubs" or provide reading material.{{sfn|Young|Boucher|2024|p=22}} A "White Boy Summer" reading list from 2021 included only two works: Mike Ma's other novel Gothic Violence, and one of Terrorgram's own manuals.{{sfn|Young|Boucher|2024|p=12}}
= Sanctification =
Terrorgram propagates "Saints culture", what terrorism scholar Graham Macklin called "a 'dark fandom' that venerates and valorizes extreme-right terrorists as 'saints' and 'martyrs' in a manner similar to the heroization of school shooters and serial killers".{{Cite web |last=Kriner |first=Matthew |date=2022-09-12 |title=Analysing Terrorgram Publications: A New Digital Zine |url=https://gnet-research.org/2022/09/12/analysing-terrorgram-publications-a-new-digital-zine/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Global Network on Extremism and Technology |language=en-GB}}{{sfn|Macklin|2022|p=216}} In the event of an accelerationist, supremacist or neo-Nazi attack, Terrorgram sees the members of the collective engaged in the search for signs attesting to the ideological closeness in order to sanctify the attacker.
The sanctification of a terrorist leads to their entry into the pantheon of terrorist-saints that are taken as models by Terrorgram. Among these, some can be identified who can be considered as founders of the ideological core, so-called founding saints: Brenton Tarrant, Theodore Kaczynski, Anders Behring Breivik, Timothy McVeigh, Charles Manson and Dylann Roof.{{Cite news|url=https://www.itstime.it/w/terrorgram-from-buffalo-to-bratislava-by-federico-borgonovo-e-ali-fisher/|title=TERRORGRAM: from Buffalo to Bratislava|work=Italian Team for Security, Terroristic Issues & Managing Emergencies|date=23 November 2022|access-date=23 November 2022|archive-date=6 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006222334/https://www.itstime.it/w/terrorgram-from-buffalo-to-bratislava-by-federico-borgonovo-e-ali-fisher/|url-status=live}} The five criteria required to become a saint include being of white race, conducting a deliberate attack, having motive to kill those who "threaten the white race," a "score" of killing at least one, and sharing the ideology of white supremacy.{{Cite news |url=https://www.counterterrorismgroup.com/post/flash-alert-high-risk-of-violence-with-the-publication-of-the-hard-reset-a-terrorgram-publication |work=The Counterterrorism Group, Inc. |title=Flash Alert: High Risk of Violence With the Publication of "The Hard Reset: A Terrorgram Publication |date=7 July 2022 |access-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811141344/https://www.counterterrorismgroup.com/post/flash-alert-high-risk-of-violence-with-the-publication-of-the-hard-reset-a-terrorgram-publication |archive-date=11 August 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.techagainstterrorism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CTEC__TAT-Accelerationism-Report-.pdf |work=Tech Against Terrorism |title=Militant Accelerationist Coalitions |date=23 November 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://vsquare.org/bratislava-terrorist-radicalized-on-terrorgram-its-members-take-credit/ |work=Vsquare |title=Bratislava Terrorist Radicalized On Terrorgram, Its Members Take Credit |date=23 November 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.splcenter.org/news/2021/02/16/how-encrypted-messaging-platform-changing-extremist-movements |work=Southern Poverty Law Centre |title=How an Encrypted Messaging Platform is Changing Extremist Movements |date=23 November 2022}}
Publications
Following the ideological standard of Siege and The Turner Diaries, detailed instructions for attacking critical infrastructure are found in white supremacist manuals and propaganda distributed over Terrorgram channels. Terrorgram issued the third instalment of a digital magazine series called Hard Reset which glorifies white supremacist attacks and gives explanations for sector-specific critical infrastructure targeting and gives detailed tactical information and targeting.{{Cite news |url=https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/CriticalInfrastructureTargeting09072022.pdf |work=Program on Extremism - THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY |title=Mayhem, Murder, and Misdirection: Violent Extremist Attack Plots Against Critical Infrastructure in the United States, 2016-2022 |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207213936/https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/CriticalInfrastructureTargeting09072022.pdf |url-status=live}} On 28 December 2023, Terrorgram published a manual for the improvised manufacture of explosives using urea nitrate.{{Cite web |date=28 December 2023 |title=The Terrorgram Collective Published an Instructional Manual on How to use Breastmilk to Manufacture Urea-Nitrate Based Explosives |url=https://trackingterrorism.org/chatter/terrorgram-manual-on-how-to-use-breastmilk-to-make-explosives/ |work=TRAC}}
In June 2021, the collective published a guide online with incitements for attacks on infrastructure and violence against minorities, police, public figures, journalists and other perceived enemies. In December 2021, they published a second document containing ideological sections on accelerationism, white supremacy, and ecofascism, together with practical instructions.{{Cite news |url=https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Tesat_Report_2022.pdf |work=Europol |title=EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2022 |date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713151351/https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Tesat_Report_2022.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://phys.org/news/2022-07-extremist-watchers-network-hate-fueled.html |work=Phys.org |last=Carless |first=Will |title=The extremist watchers: How a network of researchers is searching for the next hate-fueled attack |date=5 July 2022 |access-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123100541/https://phys.org/news/2022-07-extremist-watchers-network-hate-fueled.html |archive-date=23 November 2022}}
A 24-minute video titled White Terror, made by Terrorgram, was originally released on 14 October 2022. It celebrates dozens of individuals who committed acts of violence and terrorism from 1968 to the present against the government, police officers, women, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ people, leftists, journalists, and medical professionals. In addition to praising the perpetrators and referring to them as "saints," the video encourages further acts of terrorism, stating that future attacks will be honored. The video contains footage taken from the 2019 Christchurch shooting and 2022 Buffalo attack videos in addition to news clips.{{Cite news |url=https://www.counterextremism.com/press/extremist-content-online-bratislava-attackers-manifesto-removed-internet-archive |work=Counter Extremism Project |title=Extremist Content Online: Bratislava Attacker's Manifesto Removed From The Internet Archive |date=23 November 2022}} In March 2023, Dallas Erin Humber was found to be the narrator of the Terrorgram videos.{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dallas-humber-terrorgram-narrator-mass-shootings_n_64010e78e4b0d14ed6a6a545 |title=Exposed: Dallas Humber, Narrator Of Neo-Nazi 'Terrorgram,' Promoter Of Mass Shootings |work=Huffington Post |date=3 May 2023}}
Attacks
Response
Terrorgram has been deemed a terrorist entity or faces terrorist sanctions from the United Kingdom, the United States Department of State, and Australia.{{Cite news |date=3 February 2025 |title=Labor imposes counter-terrorism sanctions on online neo-Nazi network Terrorgram |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/03/labor-imposes-counter-terrorism-sanctions-on-online-neo-nazi-network-terrorgram |work=The Guardian}} The United Kingdom added Terrorgram collective to the list of proscribed organizations in April 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/terrorgram-added-to-list-of-proscribed-terrorist-organisations |work=gov.uk |date=24 April 2024 |title=Terrorgram added to list of proscribed terrorist organisations}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/terrorgram-collective-now-proscribed-as-terrorist-organisation |title=Terrorgram collective now proscribed as terrorist organisation |work=gov.uk |date=26 April 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024}} Home Secretary James Cleverly stated that "The Terrorgram collective spreads vile propaganda and aims to radicalise young people to conduct heinous terrorist acts".{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/britain-proscribe-terrorgram-collective-terrorist-organisation-2024-04-22/ |title=Britain to proscribe Terrorgram collective as terrorist organisation |work=Reuters |date=24 April 2024 |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423050013/https://www.reuters.com/technology/britain-proscribe-terrorgram-collective-terrorist-organisation-2024-04-22/ |url-status=live}} On January 13, 2025 the United States Department of State designated Terrorgram as a terrorist organization and sanctioned its leaders Ciro Daniel Amorim Ferreira, Noah Licul and Hendrik-Wahl Muller.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2025 |title=Terrorist Designations of The Terrorgram Collective and Three Leaders |url=https://2021-2025.state.gov/office-of-the-spokesperson/releases/2025/01/terrorist-designations-of-the-terrorgram-collective-and-three-leaders |work=state.gov}}{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Nate |date=10 September 2024 |title="HAIL HOLY TERROR": Two US citizens charged for running online "Terrorgram Collective" |url=https://arstechnica.com/culture/2024/09/hail-holy-terror-two-us-citizens-charged-for-running-online-terrorgram-collective/ |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} The Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, stated on February 2, 2025, that terrorism sanctions had been placed on the Terrorgram network. On June 27, 2025 Terrorgram was officially listed as a terrorist organization in Australia.
See also
- {{slink|Ecofascism#Association with violence}}
- Right-wing terrorism
- Order of Nine Angles
- White Resistance Manual
- {{slink|Christian Identity#Revolutionary violence}}
- Alex Curtis
Notes
References
{{reflist}}
= Works cited =
- {{Cite journal |last=Hughes |first=Brian |last2=Jones |first2=Dave |last3=Amarasingam |first3=Amarnath |date=2022-07-04 |title=Ecofascism: An Examination of the Far-Right/Ecology Nexus in the Online Space |journal=Terrorism and Political Violence |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=997–1023 |doi=10.1080/09546553.2022.2069932 |issn=0954-6553 |language=en}}
- {{Cite book |last=Katz |first=Rita |title=Saints and Soldiers: Inside Internet-Age Terrorism, From Syria to the Capitol Siege |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2022 |isbn=978-0-231-55508-1 |series=Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare |location=New York |pages=168–193 |language=en |chapter=Terrorgram}}
- {{Cite book |last1=Macklin |first1=Graham |title=A Transnational History of Right Wing Terrorism: Political Violence and the Far Right in Eastern and Western Europe since 1900 |publisher=Routledge |year=2022 |isbn=978-0-367-61210-8 |editor-last=Dafinger |editor-first=Johannes |series=Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right |language=en |chapter="Praise the saints": The cumulative momentum of transnational extreme-right terrorism |editor-last2=Florin |editor-first2=Moritz}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=O'Connor |first=Brendan |date=2020 |title=The Accelerating Gyre: The American right wants to get on with "the cleansing "fire" |magazine=The Baffler |location=New York City |pages=70–83 |language=en-US |issue=52 |issn=1059-9789 |jstor=26922852}}
- {{Cite conference| publisher = Global Network on Extremism and Technology | last1 = Young| first1 = Helen| last2 = Boucher |first2=Geoff M. | title = Far‐Right Extremism and Digital Book Publishing| access-date = 2025-03-31| date = 2024-09-23| url = https://gnet-research.org/2024/09/23/far%e2%80%90right-extremism-and-digital-book-publishing/ |language=en}}
Further reading
- {{Cite journal |last=Zilvar |first=Martin |date=2025-04-09 |title=“We are at War, White Man! Join the Resistance and Become the Hero White People Need”: Analyzing Collective Action Framing of the Terrorgram Collective’s Propaganda Publications |journal=Deviant Behavior |language=en |pages=1–17 |doi=10.1080/01639625.2025.2487621 |issn=0163-9625}}
External links
- {{Cite episode|title=The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram|series=Frontline|series-link=Frontline (American TV program)|network=PBS|station=WGBH|date=March 25, 2025|season=43|number=14|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/the-rise-and-fall-of-terrorgram/|access-date=March 26, 2025}}
{{alt-right}}
Category:Neo-fascist terrorism
Category:Terrorism in the United States
Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by Australia
Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by the United Kingdom
Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by the United States