(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. CEP researchers discovered a large cache of explosive manuals on the Internet Archive, finding 37 different manuals totaling over 1,000 pages. The collection had been online for five years and received more than 10,000 views before it was removed by the Internet Archive. Additionally, CEP identified a pro-ISIS website on Google-owned Blogspot and the pro-ISIS tech group Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF) released a guide for registering and using the open-source messenger Element.
Additionally, white supremacists celebrated the June 6 murder of four people and the serious injuring of a child, all members of the same family, in Canada. On June 7, a neo-Nazi Telegram channel posted tips and instructions for conducting an assassination with a rifle, taken from a book on guerilla warfare. On June 9, CEP researchers located a previously deleted Telegram channel that posted designs for 3d printed firearms and weapons accessories and components. Lastly, CEP researchers located a version of James Mason’s book Siege on the print-on-demand website Lulu.
Explosive Manuals Located on the Internet Archive
CEP researchers located 37 different manuals on the Internet Archive covering the synthesis of various explosives, building several types of explosive devices and detonators, and preparing the toxin ricin. The manuals, which totaled well over 1,000 pages, were uploaded as a collection by the same individual in May 2016. In over five years, the collection of explosives and toxins manuals received 10,715 views. The manuals were made by various sources, including unidentified individuals, as well as ISIS supporters, and a weapons research group affiliated with the al-Nusra Front. The manuals were removed by the Internet Archive after they were reported by CEP.
Pro-ISIS Website Located on Blogspot
The week of June 6 to June 12, CEP researchers located a pro-ISIS website on the Google-owned Blogger/Blogspot platform. The site contained diagrams for making explosive devices, ISIS propaganda photos, and links to content on other websites.
Pro-ISIS Tech Group Releases Guide for Registering in Element Messenger
On June 8, the pro-ISIS tech group Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF) released a guide for registering and using the open-source messenger Element. The guide includes information on using the app, finding servers, and connecting with EHF using the app. EHF was created in 2016 to provide cybersecurity and web technical assistance to ISIS supporters. EHF previously released a guide for using Element in December. The EHF website uses Cloudflare as its name server.
Extreme Right and White Supremacists Celebrate London, Ontario Anti-Muslim Vehicular Attack
White supremacists and members of the online extreme right celebrated the June 6 murder of four people and the serious injuring of a child, all members of the same family, in London, Ontario. Nathaniel Veltman was arrested by police following the vehicular attack and charged with murder-terrorist activity, four counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder. Local police stated their assertion that the family, including two children and one elderly person, were targeted for their Muslim faith.
A message viewed over 12,000 times and shared at least twelve times by a prominent extreme right Telegram channel declared that the attack was justified. In over 300 comments on the post, users expressed their support for the alleged attacker and encouraged additional attacks on Muslims and immigrants. A prominent American neo-Nazi who recently coordinated white supremacist banner drops on the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd cheered the attack. Users of 4chan’s /pol board celebrated the murders, encouraged additional anti-Muslim violence, and referenced the Christchurch attacker, posting laudatory photos and statements. Users of a similar imageboard dedicated to the extreme right praised the attacker and stated their hope that further anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant attacks would occur.
Neo-Nazi Telegram Channel Offers Advice on Assassinations
On June 7, a neo-Nazi Telegram channel posted tips and instructions for conducting an assassination with a rifle, taken from a book on guerilla warfare. The post covered the basic points of surveillance, infiltration, forensic safeguards, escape, and cleanup. The post was shared by at least 10 different Telegram channels and was viewed over 2,000 times. The Telegram channel that made the original post has over 1,300 subscribers, glorifies white supremacist terrorists, and endorses violence against law enforcement and other government agencies, LGBT people, Jews, and people of color.
Extreme Right-Wing Telegram Channel Focusing on Homemade Weapons Found on Telegram After Deletion
On June 9, CEP researchers located a Telegram channel that posted designs for 3d printed firearms and weapons accessories and components. The channel had the same URL, and is almost identical in its display name and specific description to a channel that posted weapons and explosives manuals reported to Telegram on January 15, 2021, and subsequently removed. The channel located in June was active between March 17 and April 13, had over 300 subscribers, with several posts being viewed over 1,000 times. The channel was reported to Telegram by CEP but was not removed. No reason was given for the discrepancy in channel removal.
3d image of an AR-15 lower receiver posted by the Telegram channel.
Notorious Neo-Nazi Book Continues to Be Found on Lulu
On June 9, CEP researchers located a version of James Mason’s book Siege on the print-on-demand website Lulu. Lulu has removed several copies of Siege, most recently in January 2021. Lulu specifically prohibits material that encourages harm, threats, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination against people “based solely on race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, (or) religious affiliation.” Mason had substantial ties to the Atomwaffen Division, and his work appears on a website that features the writing of several of the group’s members. The book was reported to Lulu for violating their Content Policy as defined in their Terms and Conditions on June 11, and was subsequently removed.