RIGHT-WING

TERRORISM
TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 64

KEY FINDINGS

› EU Member States reported six completed, failed › Right-wing extremist ideology is not uniform but
or foiled right-wing terrorist attacks for 2019. In feeds from different sub-currents, united in their
addition, Germany reported two right-wing violent rejection of diversity and minority rights. Main
extremist attacks. elements of violent right-wing ideology are the
› The attacks in Christchurch (New Zealand), belief in the superiority of the ‘white race’ and the
Poway (USA), El Paso (USA), Bærum (Norway) idea that violent acts by individuals forming part of
and Halle (Germany) are part of a wave of a ‘leaderless resistance’ serve to instigate a ‘race
violent incidents worldwide, the perpetrators of war’. This confrontation is deemed unavoidable
which were part of similar transnational online to stop the alleged conspiracy by the ‘system’
communities and took inspiration from one to replace white populations through mass
another. immigration.

› Groups of right-wing extremists intending violent › Right-wing extremists use websites, online
actions were arrested in EU Member States in discussion forums and pseudo-news sites to
2019. Many communicated via closed online disseminate their ideology. Despite efforts to
groups. detect and delete white supremacist content,

› Violent right-wing extremists maintain

major social media platforms remain important
vectors for the spread of right-wing extremism.
international links, for example through
In addition, fringe platforms, which are either
participation in concerts and rallies marking
dedicated right-wing extremist sites or have been
historical events in a variety of EU Member States.
colonised, constitute online safe havens for right-
Online communication was also observed to
wing extremist movements.
strengthen international links between right-wing
extremists, using English as lingua franca. › Also non-violent right-wing extremist movements,

› Several EU Member States reported the

such as the Identitarian Movement, encourage
hatred and have the potential to inspire lone actor
emergence of paramilitary groups pretexting the
attacks, thereby posing a significant threat of
impotence of the state to protect the population
radicalisation.
against the perceived threat from Islam and
migration.
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 65

Terrorist and violent

extremist attacks
The Christchurch attacker, in turn, praised the attacks in
In 2019 right-wing extremists in Norway in 2011.
Europe were responsible for a number For 2019, EU Member States reported a total of six
of violent attacks. Several of the completed, failed or foiled right-wing terrorist attacks: one
in Lithuania, one in Poland and four in the UK. The only
perpetrators referred to the attacks completed terrorist attack occurred in the UK on 16 March
in Christchurch (New Zealand) on 15 2019, the day following the attacks in Christchurch (New
Zealand). The 50-year-old perpetrator reportedly looked
March 2019, thereby highlighting the for a random target in Surrey and stabbed and injured
a 19-year-old Bulgarian male sitting in a car. Whilst not
acute mobilising effect of right-wing convicted of any offences specified in the UK terrorism
attacks internationally. act, the judge ruled in September 2019 that the attacker’s
behaviour constituted a terrorist act. A video excerpt of
the Christchurch massacre was found on the perpetrator’s
mobile telephone 58 .

Lithuania reported one failed attack in 2019. On 6

October, a time-delayed improvised explosive device
(IED) was discovered at the entrance of the Western
Right-wing terrorism defined Union headquarters in Vilnius. The wall was sprayed
with graffiti and a swastika sign. A 20-year-old
Right-wing terrorism refers to the use of terrorist Lithuanian male, suspected to be a member of the
violence by right-wing extremists. Variants of Feuerkrieg Division (‘Fire War Division’), was arrested
right-wing extremism are neo-Nazism, neo- on suspicion of placing the IED. Feuerkrieg Division was
fascism and ultra-nationalist formations. established in online chatrooms in October 2018, with the
Right-wing terrorism seeks to change the entire participation of several persons from various countries.
political, social and economic system on a While predominantly active online, in particular on Gab,
right-wing extremist model. A core concept in Feuerkrieg Division cell members have posted pictures of
right-wing extremism is supremacism or the meetings in person in several countries.
idea that a certain group of people sharing a
common element (nation, race, culture, etc.) is In Poland, a plot was foiled on 10 November 2019. Two
superior to all other people. Seeing themselves Polish males, aged 38 and 48, were arrested in Warsaw on
in a supreme position, the particular group suspicion of planning an attack against Muslims using an
considers it to be their natural right to dominate IED. Firearms, ammunition and materials for the production
the rest of the population. In addition, right-wing of explosives were found during house searches. The
extremist ideologies feed on a variety of hateful suspects were reportedly inspired by the perpetrators of
sub-cultures, commonly fighting back against the 2011 Norway and 2019 Christchurch attacks59.
diversity in society and equal rights of minorities.
Racist behaviour, authoritarianism, xenophobia, Other violent attacks by right-wing extremists were
misogyny and hostility to lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities 58
BBC News, Vincent Fuller: White supremacist car part stabbing ‘terrorist
and immigration are commonly found attitudes in act’, 10 September 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-
right-wing extremists. surrey-49652977
59
Reuters, Poland seizes two for plotting Breivik-style attacks on Muslims,
13 November 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-arrests/
poland-seizes-two-for-plotting-breivik-style-attacks-on-muslims-
idUSKBN1XN23L
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 66

Lithuania Poland UK

Number of completed, failed or foiled

attacks for right-wing terrorism in EU
Member States in 2019. 1 1 4

not classified as terrorism under national legislation. attached to his helmet and live-streamed his actions
Germany, for example, stipulated that no terrorist attack on the online gaming platform Twitch61. He addressed
motivated by right-wing extremism was committed in his perceived viewers, speaking in English and using
Germany in 2019. However, two major attacks by right- terminology taken from online gaming. Prior to the attack,
wing extremists were reported. he had posted a ‘manifesto’ online, in which he displayed
his homemade firearms and IEDs. Some non-essential
On 2 June 2019, a 45-year-old German national shot and parts of the firearms were produced with a 3D printer.
killed the Regierungspräsident60 of Kassel at his home in It is believed that the attacker was socially isolated and
Wolfhagen-Istha (Hessen). The suspect was arrested two predominantly motivated by a mixture of anti-Semitism and
weeks later, and investigations identified two other persons anti-feminism 62.
believed to have participated in procuring weapons,
including the one used in the offence. He was indicted In addition, France reported two attacks on mosques in the
for murder and his two alleged associates for aiding and second half of 2019, which were not classified as terrorism.
abetting murder. The alleged perpetrator had a history of On 27 June 2019, a male with severe mental health issues
right-wing extremist offences dating back to when he was shot at people leaving an Islamic centre in Brest, before
15. committing suicide. On 28 October 2019, an octogenarian
male attacked a mosque in Bayonne with a handgun. In the
On 9 October 2019, a 27-year-old German male attempted latter case, the profile of the perpetrator matched that of
to attack the synagogue in Halle an der Saale (Saxony- the neo-populist fringe of the right-wing extremist scene,
Anhalt), where worshippers were celebrating the Jewish characterised by, inter alia, an adherence to conspiracy
holiday of Yom Kippur. After failing to break open the theories, hatred for Islam and the perception of public
locked entrance doors by firing shots and using an IED, he institutions’ impotence.
randomly shot and killed a female passer-by. Subsequently,
he drove to a Turkish restaurant, where he killed one male.
During the course of his escape, he repeatedly shot at
additional persons, injuring two of them seriously. The
suspect was arrested approximately an hour and a half
after the initial synagogue attack, having crashed his
getaway vehicle. He was indicted for two counts of murder
and multiple counts of attempted murder.

The suspect recorded the attack with a video camera

60
In Hessen and three other German federal states, the Regierungspräsident is the head of a mid-level regional government, appointed by the state’s prime
minister.
61
Koehler, D., ‘The Halle, Germany, Synagogue Attack and the Evolution of the Far-Right Terror Threat’, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 12, Issue 11, December 2019, pp.
14-20.
62
Koehler, D., ‘The Halle, Germany, Synagogue Attack and the Evolution of the Far-Right Terror Threat’, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 12, Issue 11, December 2019, pp. 14-
20.
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 67

Right-wing extremist
groups, structures and
activities
Violent right-wing groups Similarly, in November, Italy detained twelve individuals –
two of whom were later arrested – on suspicion of illegal
possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives. The
Several EU Member States reported violent right-wing suspects had come to notice during an investigation, in
activities. In Ireland, incidents associated with anti- which xenophobic and anti-Jewish messages and content
immigrant ideology, including arson attacks on immigrant were exchanged via WhatsApp. One of the suspects had
housing facilities and a vehicle, were observed in 2019. expressed the need to build ‘a qualified structure ready for
There is a growing anti-immigrant movement consistent any eventuality […] a Republican National Guard’ capable of
with right-wing ideology. In Denmark, like in neighbouring ‘summary justice without calling the police’.
countries, anti-Jewish acts took place in 2019. For
Also in November, 20 right-wing extremists were detained
instance, in November, Danish right-wing extremists
across Italy that adhered to pro-Nazi, xenophobic and anti-
committed acts of gross vandalism and desecration of
Jewish beliefs and aimed to create the ‘Italian National
Jewish symbols and graves. Also in Luxembourg, there
Socialist Workers’ Party’. One Italian citizen, aged 57, was
are more anti-Jewish incidents than in the past. Right-
arrested for illegal possession of weapons, after having
wing populism and hate speech cases are in a growing
been found in the possession of a shotgun, a bolt action
state. Belgium reported that small right-wing extremist
rifle, two revolvers, large amounts of ammunition and a
groups organise (counter-)demonstrations clearly targeting
taser. Another person was arrested for illegal weapons
Muslim populations, migrants or extreme left-wing groups.
possession and trafficking linked to terrorism.
The aim of such demonstrations is to raise tensions and
to initiate violence. They also seek to disrupt public order
by joining in demonstrations to confront the police or to
provoke violence or damage.
Organisations
In 2019 a number of right-wing extremist groups planning
violent acts were detected. They were all formed in
The right-wing scene is described as extremely
closed online spaces. In January, for example, Germany
heterogeneous both from a structural and ideological
searched premises of members of the group National
perspective. Established organisations are mainly
Socialist Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Germany across
known to exist within the neo-Nazi spectrum. One of the
eight federal states. At least 28 suspects were detained.
most prominent groups is Blood & Honour (B&H), which
Their objectives were reported as including furthering
originated in the UK in 1987. Its objective is to train ‘political
‘racial segregation’ and the ‘protection of their own kind’.
soldiers’, in order to wage a ‘race war’ and save the ‘white
The members exchanged their views in WhatsApp groups,
race’. The organisation has chapters in different European
glorifying National Socialism and violence. They also
countries, including Belgium and Portugal. It was banned
strove to arm group members. During the searches, more
in Germany in 2000 63. Belgium reported that in 2019 B&H,
than 100 weapons (blank firing weapons/air pressure
which had suffered from internal dissent and division in
weapons, swords, machetes, knives, batons) and branded
the past, engaged mainly in networking activities, such as
paraphernalia were seized.
music concerts, rather than activism and the spread of
ideology.

63
German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Wer oder was ist “Combat 18 Deutschland”?, 23 January 2020, https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/
themen/sicherheit/vereinsverbot-combat-18/2.html
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 68

Portugal reported that their national chapter of the neo-

Nazi Hammerskin Nation continued its activities. Despite
International links
a diminished capacity to mobilise followers and members,
the group organised another edition of the ‘European
Officers Meeting’ (EOM) in Sintra in January. In addition, Online spaces have been observed to
in March, the group held a meeting in Lisbon bringing
together different generations of skinheads including
strengthen international links among
militant veterans of the defunct Movimento de Ação right-wing extremists.
Nacional (MAN, ‘National Action Movement’) and former
members of musical rock bands Ódio (‘Hate’) and Guarda Ireland reported a strong international network involving
de Ferro (‘Iron Guard’), which had ceased their activities right-wing extremists from Ireland, other European
several years earlier. countries and the USA. Denmark assessed that Danish
right-wing extremists were increasingly building relations
In Finland and Sweden, the Nordiska motståndsrörelsen
with like-minded individuals abroad, including on virtual
(NMR, ‘Nordic Resistance Movement’) was the dominant
platforms. These relations enable right-wing extremists
neo-Nazi organisation in 2019. In Finland, the NMR faced
to learn new modi operandi and adapt to new national
difficulties due to a pending proscription process and its
legislation, for example.
members established a new right-wing extremist group.
NMR is primarily involved in propaganda but also has Hungarian right-wing extremist organisations often consist
paramilitary features, and endeavours to organise, equip of a hard core of five to ten people and highly fluctuating
and train their members for a supposed future armed membership. They maintain connections primarily in
struggle. In Sweden, the NMR has participated in elections, neighbouring countries, but also with like-minded groups
but thus far has not won any mandate. In 2019 the NMR in other EU Member States, including Germany, Italy, the
organised large rallies in several locations across Sweden, Netherlands and the UK. In Hungary, right-wing extremist
which on occasion led to violent confrontations with the organisations focus on organising rallies and ‘marches’ to
police and ideological opponents. mark anniversaries of historical events. During such events,
behaviour, symbols and chanting disparaging political,
In 2019 prominent dissidents of NMR established Nordisk
religious or ethnic minorities has been observed. For
Styrka (NS, ‘Nordic Strength’) in Sweden. They were
example, it has been reported that neo-Nazis from different
allegedly dissatisfied, inter alia, with NMR’s parliamentary
parts of Europe gather each February in Budapest to mark
focus.
what they call the ‘Day of Honour’.
Right-Wing Resistance (RWR) is a small right-wing
Music and concerts play a key role in providing coherence
extremist organisation with international links. It is
to and propagating neo-Nazi groups across Europe. The
reported to exist in Belgium and Sweden.
Oi! and ‘Rock against Communism’ (RAC) music genres
are reported to be one of the main unifying elements. With
In France, the right-wing extremist movement remained
their aggressiveness, they constitute one of the vectors of
disorganised. Structured right-wing extremist movements,
expression of neo-Nazi or skinhead groups and pose as an
such as the neo-fascist Troisième Voie (‘Third Path’) and
‘underground’ culture. Right-wing extremist groups try to
the monarchist Action Française (‘French Action’), have
circumvent bans in one country by organising or attending
lost influence following self-dissolutions in 2014, in an
meetings or concerts in other countries. In Belgium, for
attempt to avoid formal bans following the death of a left-
example, these concerts can bring together several dozens
wing activist during an attack.
or even several hundred participants and also attract neo-
In Greece, following the arrests in 2018 of individuals Nazi audiences from abroad, including Germany, Hungary,
involved in the organisations Combat 18 Hellas and the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.
Anentachtoi Maiandrioi Ethinkistes (AME, ‘Non-Aligned
Portugal indicated that each year since 2015 the
Meander Nationalists’), right-wing extremist activity was
Portuguese B&H chapter has organised concerts in early
observed to be very low in 2019. It manifested itself mainly
November, which have usually been attended by prominent
through graffiti. Members participated in nationalist
members of different B&H chapters in Europe. The last one
organisations’ gatherings regarding issues such as the
took place in 2019 in Lavra-Matosinhos (near Porto) but did
refugee crisis. In addition, in 2019 violent incidents against
not attract a large gathering.
persons causing injuries and property damage occurred.
The main targets were the police; politicians and political
party offices; immigrants or refugees; and the anarchist
and anti-authoritarian milieu.
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 69

training lessons are performed on private properties

(farms) and abandoned military installations. Their activity
Right-wing extremists were increasingly is advertised mainly on the internet.
building relations with like-minded
Czechia reported that, within the neo-Nazi movement,
individuals abroad, including on virtual training activities were noticed with particular outreach to
platforms hooligans. This consisted of physical and fighting training
as preparation for mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments.
One paramilitary organisation consisting of neo-Nazi
Right-wing extremists seek to extend their activists in Czechia is known for its tactical training, high
influence to other circles or sectors of level of organisation and possession of arms.

activity Belgium observed visits by Belgian right-wing extremists to

Eastern European countries for the purpose of training or
self-defence and marksmanship.
Right-wing extremist outreach Several EU Member States reported that right-wing
extremists participated in the Ukraine conflict. In general,
Right-wing extremists seek to extend their influence far-right movements are divided: some, particularly in
to other circles or sectors of activity. One example is the neo-Nazi movement, support Ukraine and the pro-
hooligans. Sweden observed interaction between the Ukrainian militias, while other right-wing extremists appear
violent right-wing extremist movement and Swedish to support positions taken by Russia. Czechia, for example,
sports hooligans. However, cooperation appears to be ad highlighted that most right-wing extremists call for support
hoc and based on personal relationships. In Italy, violent of the separatists in eastern Ukraine. By contrast, some
supporters of Italian football teams were noted to be Czech neo-Nazis reportedly are inspired by the Azov
increasingly politicised. In July 2019, a police operation Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian militia accused of neo-Nazi and
brought to light connections between far-right groups white supremacist sympathies. In general, while right-
and violent supporters of football club Juventus Turin, in wing extremist recruitment remains very weak in Czechia,
particular among the Drughi Giovinezza and Tradizione nationalist groups focusing on the idea of a unity of Slavic
fan clubs. According to Hungary, football hooligans join nations and pro-Russian groups are relatively successful.
right-wing organisations not for ideological reasons, but for In Sweden, one individual suspected of a weapons offence
possibilities of violent manifestations. was described as a contact person between Russian
paramilitary officers and Swedish violent right-wing
Sweden also noted that right-wing extremists and extremists.
motorcycle gangs involved in organised crime are in
contact. Again, these contacts are based on personal In France, mainly in reaction to the cycle of attacks plotted
relationships and do not take place on the organisational or inspired by the so-called Islamic State (IS) that started
level. However, right-wing extremist groups might borrow in December 2014, several organisations emerged from
from motorcycle clubs their highly hierarchical structures, the networks advocating the struggle ‘against the Islamist
inspired by the Hell’s Angels. threat’, constituting patriotic self-defence groups that take
inspiration from the organisational models of paramilitary
and/or survivalist militias. Also in Belgium, recurrently,
right-wing extremist groups have organised self-defence
Paramilitary training and patrols in public places allegedly to secure the inhabitants
against ‘aggressions committed by migrants’, pretexting
activities state negligence in managing insecurity.

In Slovenia, in the light of increased illegal border

Sweden noted an increased interest in paramilitary training crossings, the polarisation of society with regard to
among individuals in right-wing circles in recent years. With support or rejection of migration has led to a more frequent
some regularity, they reportedly organise different types of emergence of ‘neighbourhood watches’, pretexting that
gatherings in the form of survival training, camps and field current state measures do not provide a sufficient level
marches. of security for the citizens against migrants. These
movements and groups are recruiting members via social
Hungary observed that military-type training was networks, with the risk of creating echo chambers that
considered a requirement within a sizeable proportion can lead to radicalisation and justification of violence. The
of the extreme right-wing groups, as well as learning and groups have a unified command, pursue similar goals,
developing skills related to handling and using firearms. provide training in army techniques, have unified insignias
Usually, they train their members for shooting through and conduct outreach activities to the public and specific
paintball games and hold martial arts lessons. These target groups.
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism
70

Violent right-wing
ideology
One of the main reference works for the concept of
The right-wing extremist spectrum is a ‘leaderless resistance’ is SIEGE, a collection of newsletters
mixture of prejudices, contemptuous and produced by US American neo-Nazi James Mason in the
1980s. SIEGE advocates a guerrilla-type war by small
totalitarian ideologies that, each in their own autonomous cells against what is called ‘the system’65.
way, pose a threat to security Current groups advocating SIEGE beliefs include
Atomwaffen Division (‘Nuclear Weapons Division’),
Sonnenkrieg Division (‘Sun War Division’) and Feuerkrieg
Division (‘Fire War Division’).
Violent right-wing extremist sentiments are fed from
Right-wing extremist propaganda does not always explicitly
different sub-currents, which are often based on very
incite violence. For example, following the Christchurch
different (perceived) grievances. Consequently, the right-
attacks, in a column on the group’s website Nordfront, the
wing extremist spectrum is not uniform in its appearance;
leader of NMR expressed his ‘understanding’ of an attack
it is a mixture of prejudices, contemptuous and totalitarian
like the ones in Christchurch, but that such an attack could
ideologies that, each in their own way, pose a threat to
never take place in Sweden in the name of NMR.
security. These include National Socialist-oriented groups
and neo-Nazi groups; revisionist individuals and groups;
racist and anti-Jewish groups; and skinhead and right-

The ‘Great Replacement’

wing extremist hooligan groups. In addition, right-wing
extremism draws on a variety of other hateful sub-cultures,
all of which reject diversity and consider religious, ethnic or
sexual minorities as enemies.
In recent years, many strands of right-wing extremism
have been incorporated into the broader framework of the
so-called ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory, which

‘Leaderless resistance’ originates from the 2011 book Le Grand Remplacement by

French author Renaud Camus. Violent actors motivated by
different right-wing extremist motivations have justified
their attacks with a reference to this theory. The ‘Great
Right-wing terrorist and extremist violence often appear
Replacement’ promotes the idea that a global elite, often
to be designed to instigate a ‘race war’64 that many right-
perceived to be led or dominated by Jews, tries to replace
wing extremists believe is unavoidable. They seek a
‘white’ populations with ‘non-white’ people through
violent reaction from the victims against which violence
massive immigration. In the aftermath of the Christchurch
is perpetrated and their wider community. Such triggering
attacks, an exponential increase of references to the ‘Great
acts are portrayed as part of a ‘leaderless resistance’, a
Replacement’ on social media propelled the term into
concept that aims to encourage lone actors to perpetrate
mainstream attention 66 .
violence.

64
Right-wing extremists often refer to ‘race’ as a defining and separating factor of human communities. The concept of ‘race’ as a biological category,
however, was invented to justify discriminatory and colonial policies in the 19th century. In 2019 the Jena Declaration pointed out that the concept of race is
the result of racism. See Jena Declaration, 19 September 2019, https://www.uni-jena.de/en/190910_JenaerErklaerung_EN.html
65
Ware, J., ‘Siege: The Atomwaffen Division and Rising Far-Right Terrorism in the United States’, ICCT Policy Brief, 2019, https://icct.nl/publication/siege-the-
atomwaffen-division-and-rising-far-right-terrorism-in-the-united-states/
66
Davey, J. and Ebner, J., ‘“The Great Replacement”: the violent consequences of mainstreamed extremism’, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, p. 19, https://www.
isdglobal.org/isd-publications/the-great-replacement-the-violent-consequences-of-mainstreamed-extremism
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 71

Anti-feminism
White supremacism
Sexual frustration and misogynist views have been
White supremacist ideology postulates the expressed explicitly by the perpetrators of the attacks
superiority of the ‘white race’. It has frequently in Christchurch (New Zealand) and Halle (Germany)
been employed to justify the positions expressed in 2019 and in 2020 in Hanau (Germany).
by the authors of terrorist ‘manifestos’. Many
deliberately used openly racist, anti-Jewish or anti- Anti-feminism has been fitted into the ‘Great
Muslim wording. Some advocated self-isolation, Replacement’ conspiracy theory: feminism is alleged
anticipating the outbreak of a ‘race war’ between to have been invented to distract women from their
native populations and immigrants. Whereas not all ‘natural’ role as mothers and, consequently, blamed
those who hold white supremacist ideas are violent,
for decreasing birth rates in Western countries,
white supremacist ideology is more likely than other
which in turn allows immigrants – whose women
forms of right-wing extremism to inspire acts of
supposedly have not been influenced by feminist
serious violence or terrorism, as it is more likely
rhetoric – to become the majority more rapidly.
to explicitly promote hatred and violence against
minorities. For example, in the UK, two members of
Such ideas provide a rationalisation for sexual
white supremacist group Sonnenkrieg Division were
frustration. They serve as a bridge for right-wing
found guilty of terrorism offences in June 2019,
extremists to be inspired by the involuntary celibate
after they were arrested in late 2018 on accusations
(incel) movement. This misogynist community of
of calling for the murder of the Duke of Sussex
whom they accused of being a ‘race traitor’67. Italy mainly young men meet in online spaces similar
noted that white supremacism became increasingly to those frequented by white supremacists and
mainstream in 2019, as a result of the exploitation blame their inability to find sexual partners on
of public fear regarding irregular migration women being influenced by feminism. A 22-year-
movements. old man who in May 2014 killed six people in a
mass shooting targeting a sorority of his college
in Isla Vista (California, USA) before committing
suicide has become an emblematic figure for the
incel movement68. In April 2018, a 25-year-old man,
inspired by incel ideology, killed ten people, mainly
women, in Toronto (Canada) by ploughing a van into
pedestrians69. In November 2018, two women were
shot dead at a yoga studio in Tallahassee (Florida,
USA). The 40-year-old perpetrator, who compared
himself to the Californian attacker, pre-planned the
attack and had a history of hatred towards women70.

68
BBC News, Elliot Rodger: How misogynist killer became “incel
hero”, 26 April 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-
canada-43892189
69
Wendling, M., ‘Toronto van attack: What is an “incel”?’, BBC News, 24
67 April 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-43881931
BBC News, Teenage neo-Nazis jailed over terror offences, 18 June
70
2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48672929 Zaveri, M., Jacobs, J. and Mervosh, S., ‘Gunman in Yoga Studio
Shooting Recorded Misogynistic Videos and Faced Battery Charges’,
The New York Times, 3 November 2018, https://www.nytimes.
com/2018/11/03/us/yoga-studio-shooting-florida.html
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 72

Right-wing extremist
propaganda

The right-wing extremist online discourse perpetrators are integrated into the code used among right-
wing extremists71.
uses the internet troll-culture – with its
use of sarcasm and innuendo – both to Symbols and codes are also used offline. Right-wing
extremists use (commercial) brands and symbols to signal
manipulate political opponents and to to each other adherence to the movement. For example,
avoid personal responsibility for hate some groups claim to have Nordic pagan mythology and
use it as an identity marker (group names, coats of arms,
speech and incitement to violence
tattoos, jackets, etc.). Changes in pace and scope of using
right-wing extremist symbols have accelerated over recent
Changes in pace and scope of using years, as a result of the emergence of networked online
communication.
right-wing extremist symbols have
accelerated over recent years, as a result Virtual groups might also engage in collecting Nazi
paraphernalia in real life. On 26 November 2019, the
of the emergence of networked online
premises of three suspects were searched in Sassari
communication (Italy). The measure targeted the founder of a neo-Nazi
and anti-Jewish movement Ordine Ario Romano (‘Roman
Arian Order’), active on the Russian-based social media
Right-wing-dominated sites provide platform VKontakte, as well as two associates. Numerous
encouragement, the opportunity to documents and material, including originals from the
Nazi era and a propaganda sticker referring to Generation
converse with like-minded individuals,
Identity, were seized.
to radicalise and provide guidance for
terrorist attacks In addition to offline activities, such as gatherings, marches
and concerts, right-wing terrorists and extremists primarily
use electronic media to recruit and to build and maintain
Right-wing extremists use a mix of online and offline their community. This makes the online space one of the
propaganda methods. Offline propaganda manifests main drivers of the right-wing threat. Right-wing-dominated
in public events and demonstrations, racist graffiti, sites provide encouragement, the opportunity to converse
desecration of religious sites, verbal attacks and other with like-minded individuals, to radicalise and provide
hateful incitement. The right-wing extremist online guidance for terrorist attacks.
discourse uses the internet troll-culture – with its use
of sarcasm and innuendo – both to manipulate political Right-wing extremist media that promote violence is
opponents and to avoid personal responsibility for repeatedly shared online, as is instructional material. Right-
hate speech and incitement to violence. Hate speech, wing websites and forums provide safe havens for sharing
conspiracy theories and dehumanisation are used to assign extremist ideologies which can be used as justification
traits to groups and individuals, making them ‘legitimate’ for an individual or a group seeking to conduct a terrorist
targets of violence. As part of a culture of glorification attack. In the absence of physical constraints such as
of terrorists and assailants, pictures and special traits of international borders, individuals are able to access and

71
Kaati, L., Asplund Cohen, K., Akrami, N., Shrestha, A., Fernquist, J., Pelzer, B., Welander, F. and Isbister, T., ‘Digitalt slagfält’, Swedish Defence Research Agency
(FOI), 24 October 2019, https://www.foi.se/report-summary?reportNo=FOI-R--4813--SE
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 73

share violent, extremist media, establish new contacts and Other websites target specific language groups. Hungary
radicalise or be further radicalised. The UK assessed that reported that right-wing webpages in Hungarian language,
disruptive action against prominent right-wing extremist after being banned, quickly reopened on foreign, mainly
groups in the UK has likely increased the use of the online Russian servers. France observed that websites, like that
space, due to the perception that it is easier to remain of the French-language white supremacist movement
anonymous online and that scrutiny or intervention from Suavelos, greatly facilitate the dissemination of terrorist
law enforcement agencies is less likely. ‘manifestos’. Like other right-wing extremist sites, Suavelos
pretends to be a news aggregator, but by selecting one-
sided news, mixing reliable with unreliable sources and
Despite a recent pushback from major providing partisan comment, it attempts to steer its users
towards extremist views.
social media platforms, right-wing
In addition, Suavelos, created in 2016, provides a safe
extremists continued to enjoy much haven for white supremacists, whose messages have been
exposed to deletion on major platforms like Facebook
greater freedom to act online in 2019 and YouTube following the Christchurch attacks. From the
than, for example, jihadists. website, the movement reaches out to social media, for
example by creating secondary accounts on Facebook or
channels on Telegram with the aim of engaging audiences
At the same time, in spreading their ideologies, right-wing beyond the nationalist fringe 73.
extremist activists are aware of and inspired by the tactics
developed by jihadist factions, particularly in terms of With regard to right-wing extremist messaging,
online propaganda. nevertheless, major social media platforms, including
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, remain important.
The sharing of propaganda, including ‘manifestos’ or letters Following the Christchurch attacks, Facebook announced
in connection with the execution of right-wing terrorist a crackdown on ‘white supremacy’74. Twitter said that
and extremist attacks, is an effective way for right-wing it ‘purged’ its platform in December 2017. According
extremists to get their message to a large audience with to a 2019 study, YouTube’s recommendation system
only a modest effort. In general, right-wing extremists have continued to prioritise extreme right-wing material after
a longstanding online presence and occupy ‘old’ and ‘new’ users interacted with similar content75. Such automatised
online spaces, forming an online eco-system that caters for mechanisms carry the risk of exposing individuals
different functions and reaches a variety of audiences. potentially susceptible to right-wing narratives to more
extreme messages. Italy observed the use of Russian-
Right-wing extremists were early adopters of online based VKontakte spreading especially among radical young
environments and ‘traditional’ online spaces, and websites, people, as it allows spreading xenophobic and extremist
such as Stormfront and the Daily Stormer, and online ideas in anonymity, as observed in the abovementioned
discussion forums continue to play an important role 72. case of Ordine Ario Romano (‘Roman Arian Order’).

English has become the lingua franca of a transnational In addition to the major platforms, several fringe platforms
right-wing extremist community. The Halle attacker, for are used by right-wing extremists. These are either
example, used English to address an imaginary audience dedicated right-wing extremist platforms (Gab, Voat,
during the live-streaming of the attack. Websites of 8Chan) or have been colonised by right-wing extremists
Swedish neo-Nazi organisations, in particular the Nordfront (Reddit, 4Chan). Gab has been identified by many as a
website of the Nordiska motståndsrörelsen (NMR, ‘Nordic safe haven for extreme right-wing movements, including
Resistance Movement’) and the website of Nordisk Styrka Feuerkrieg Division, which seem to drive extremist content
(NS, ‘Nordic Strength’), also contain English sections.

72
Conway, M., Scrivens, R. and Macnair, L., ‘Right-Wing Extremists’ Persistent Online Presence: History and Contemporary Trends’, ICCT Policy Brief, 25
November 2019, https://icct.nl/publication/right-wing-extremists-persistent-online-presence-history-and-contemporary-trends
73
Sénécat, A., ‘La galaxie Suavelos, vitrine d’un racism décomplexé’, Le Monde, 11 September 2019, https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/
article/2019/09/11/la-galaxie-suavelos-vitrine-d-un-racisme-decomplexe_5509154_4355770.html
74
Conway, M., Scrivens, R. and Macnair, L., ‘Right-Wing Extremists’ Persistent Online Presence: History and Contemporary Trends’, ICCT Policy Brief, 25
November 2019, https://icct.nl/publication/right-wing-extremists-persistent-online-presence-history-and-contemporary-trends
75
Reed, A., Whittaker, J., Votta, F. and Looney, S., ‘Radical Filter Bubbles: Social Media Personalisation Algorithms and Extremist Content’, The Global Research
Network on Terrorism and Technology, Technology, Terrorism, 26 July 2019, https://rusi.org/publication/other-publications/radical-filter-bubbles-social-media-
personalisation-algorithms-and
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 74

on the platform76 . flows of hits through fake profiles, bots, or by using the
services offered by click farms.
8Chan, in particular, was used in 2019 by several attackers
to post their ‘manifestos’, in which they explained their With regard to the fight against terrorist content online,
actions and called on like-minded people to perpetrate the 15 March 2019 Christchurch attacks marked a defining
attacks. This applied to the 15 March attacks in point: the first attack was livestreamed and its recording,
Christchurch (New Zealand), the 27 April attack in Poway alongside the attacker’s ‘manifesto’, spread rapidly
(California, USA) and the 3 August attack in El Paso (Texas, online. The exceptional virality, velocity and volume of
USA). In the aftermath of the El Paso attack, 8Chan went the materials’ online diffusion points to a savvy use of
offline, after Cloudflare terminated its protective services internet technologies and communication, not only by the
for the site. After some time offline, 8Chan tried to re- attacker, but by multiple communities of internet users,
establish itself under the name of 8Kun, but was removed beyond right-wing extremist sympathisers. The interplay
by the domain registrar within days77. The 10 August of online communities who share the same internet slang
Bærum (Norway) attacker posted an attack declaration on and memes contributed to the widespread dissemination
Endchan, another derivative Chan board. While derivatives of the content and its digital endurance. Internet users
of Chan reportedly remained online in late 2019, albeit have adopted different techniques to circumvent disruption
without being indexed by search engines, substantial efforts by online service providers. In particular, edited
numbers of users reportedly migrated to other peer-to-peer versions of the Christchurch video appeared to fly under
encrypted platforms, such as Telegram or Discord78 . the radar of detection measures enforced by online service
providers.
Closed communication spaces, such as those offered
by WhatsApp, played a major role in the formation of
right-wing terrorist cells dismantled in 2019. In addition,
Switzerland reported that it foiled one attack in May 2019,
when a minor was arrested on suspicion of planning to kill
Muslims and carry out attacks on mosques in Switzerland.
The suspect had communicated with foreign right-wing
extremists on Instagram (and probably on other social
networks).

Access to closed groups is by personal invitation,

recommendation of other members or proof of loyalty. In
addition to attack planning, closed spaces are used for
coordination and the preparation of campaigns. According
to media reporting, members of the right-wing extremist
networks design and workshop memes to spread as
propaganda, with the aim to infiltrate popular culture with
a neo-Nazi agenda79. One Belgian far-right organisation
is suspected of having raised a ‘troll army’ to support its
propaganda by making coordinated hateful and threatening
comments following an online publication or targeting a
Facebook page. These trolls also practice ‘doxxing’, i.e. the
accumulation of open-source or hacked information about
their opponents for the purpose of intimidation. In addition,
they support their own publications by generating large

76
Reed, A., Whittaker, J., Votta, F. and Looney, S., ‘Radical Filter Bubbles: Social Media Personalisation Algorithms and Extremist Content’, The Global Research
Network on Terrorism and Technology, Technology, Terrorism, 26 July 2019, https://rusi.org/publication/other-publications/radical-filter-bubbles-social-media-
personalisation-algorithms-and
77
Macklin, G., ‘The El Paso Terrorist Attack: The Chain Reaction of Global Right-Wing Terror’, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 12, Issue 11, December 2019, pp. 1-9, https://
ctc.usma.edu/el-paso-terrorist-attack-chain-reaction-global-right-wing-terror/
78
Macklin, G., ‘The El Paso Terrorist Attack: The Chain Reaction of Global Right-Wing Terror’, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 12, Issue 11, December 2019, pp. 1-9, https://
ctc.usma.edu/el-paso-terrorist-attack-chain-reaction-global-right-wing-terror/
79
Makuch, B. and Lamoureux, M., ‘Neo-Nazis Are Organizing Secretive Paramilitary Training Across America’, VICE News, 20 November 2018, https://www.
vice.com/en_us/article/a3mexp/neo-nazis-are-organizing-secretive-paramilitary-training-across-america
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 75

Narratives of hate and

incitement to violence

Different far right ideological strands encourage hatred and have

the potential to inspire lone actor attacks. While mainly expressed
peacefully, these ideologies continue to pose a significant risk of Three main strands of
radicalisation. Core ideological elements were referenced by the right-wing ideology
perpetrators of attacks including those on 22 July 2011 in Utøya and
Oslo (Norway), on 15 March 2019 in Christchurch (New Zealand)
and on 9 October 2019 in Halle (Germany). Cultural nationalism: the belief that
‘Western culture’ is under threat from
Beyond white supremacism and neo-Nazism, the perceived mass
mass migration into Europe and from
immigration and alleged population change unite radical and
the lack of integration by certain
extremist right-wing movements. Cultural nationalists claim that
ethnic and cultural groups. Cultural
Western culture must be protected against Muslim immigration and
nationalism tends to focus on the
‘Islamisation’. White or ethnic nationalists, such as the Identitarian
Movement or Generation Identity, advocate segregation along rejection of cultural practices such as
ethnic lines and claim that ‘white’ Westerners have the right to the wearing of the full-face veil (burqa
defend ‘their’ nations from foreign peoples and cultures80. or niqab) or the perceived attempts
to impose Islamic law in Western
These currents are sometimes referred to as the ‘New Right’ countries.
movement, the members of which present themselves as
intellectuals. Key themes of these right-wing activists are anti- White or ethnic nationalism: the
immigration, anti-multiculturalism, rejection of Islam and the belief that mass migration from the
perceived impotence of the political establishment. Social issues ‘non-white’ world and an alleged
are being used as propaganda tools, for example drawing the demographic change pose an
contrast between the housing of migrants and the plight of the existential threat to the ‘white race’ and
homeless. By agitating against immigration in polarising and ‘Western culture’. White nationalism
inflammatory ways, the radical right-wing spectrum attempts to advocates the creation of a ‘white’
gain supporters from the political centre and to motivate them for homeland, either through the partition
public protest rallies. Concurrently, violent right-wing extremist
of already existing countries or by the (if
groups capitalise on the polarisation and xenophobia driven by
necessary forced) repatriation of ethnic
the ‘New Right’, so much so that the opportunities to recruit new
minorities. Much of this rhetoric is
supporters generate competition and tensions within and between
present in the identitarian movement.
right-wing extremist circles.
White supremacism: the belief that
The ‘New Right’ includes the Identitarian Movement operating
throughout Europe. In Austria, for example, the Identitäre the ‘white race’ has certain inalienable
Bewegung Österreichs (IBÖ, ‘Identitarian Movement of Austria’) has physical and mental characteristics that
makes it superior to other races.

80
Bjørgo, T. and Aasland Ravndal, J., ‘Extreme-right violence and terrorism: concepts,
patterns, and responses’, ICCT Policy Brief, 23 September 2019, https://icct.nl/
publication/extreme-right-violence-and-terrorism-concepts-patterns-and-responses
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 76

established itself as the most active right-wing extremist state, the movement opposes – in a binary and dualist
group. Together with its sister organisations in Europe, IBÖ vision of France – ‘native’ French people to a population of
primarily promotes resistance to a perceived ‘Islamisation’ North African descent and propagates the risk of a Muslim
of the Western world. In Portugal, one of the most active invasion and the ‘Grand Replacement’ conspiracy theory.
identitarian groups is Escudo Identitário (‘Identitarian
Shield’). Portugal assessed that activities of neo-Nazi In Germany, the Reichsbürger/Selbstverwalter (‘Reich
groups are closely connected to groups and organisations Citizens/Self-Governing Citizens’) movement purports that
of the European Identitarian Movement. the Federal Republic of Germany has no legal existence
and, therefore, its members legally remain citizens of
Following a series of jihadist attacks in recent years, the German Reich. Reportedly, individuals linked to the
France, for example, witnessed the emergence of a neo- movement are being influenced by right-wing extremist
patriotic fringe, which displays a publicly proclaimed ideology.
hatred of Islam and depicts the French political class as
being responsible for the suffering of a French society
supposedly in decline. Using a vocabulary of resistance
and considering itself a remedy to the impotence of the
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 77

Situation outside the EU

Right-wing extremists maintain international links and to the video live-stream on the 8Chan online message
mutual exchange and are influenced by key treatises and board. In the ‘manifesto’, he claimed that the attacks were
emblematic personalities worldwide. In recent years, a revenge for terrorist attacks in Europe and the supposed
wave of right-wing attacks – the perpetrators of which have genocide of ‘white Europeans’. He pointed out that he used
taken inspiration from each other – has shown the impact the internet to receive, research and develop his beliefs and
of networked communication via online platforms. This has that he played online games to train himself to be a killer.
created a global community adhering to and reinforcing He named the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks as
conspiracy theories and disseminating calls to violence. An his main inspiration.
important reference point for this community is the attacks
in Oslo and Utøya in Norway in 201181. Between 2015 and 2018, the Christchurch perpetrator
visited Europe, including a large number of EU Member
Attacks feature heavily as sources of propaganda States, on four separate journeys. During these visits, his
internationally. Several of the attacks in 2019 in Europe and main destinations were on the Iberian Peninsula and the
beyond can be viewed as part of this series and underline Balkan region – areas that historically were the scene
the acuteness of the threat. Similar to jihadist attacks in of military confrontation between Muslim and Christian
2015 and 2016, previous attacks and increasing numbers of powers. Portugal confirmed his passage through various
incidents constitute a rapidly growing corpus of precedents Portuguese cities, including Tomar, the Portuguese
that risks motivating potential attackers and lowering headquarters of the Knights Templar, an organisation
the threshold to act out violence. The glorification and created in France in the 12th century CE to fight the Muslim
gamification of violent incidents in the digital milieu likely armies in the Middle East. He was apparently travelling
incite further violence 82. Whereas IS-inspired perpetrators alone and did not contact local members or activists
were recognised as ‘caliphate soldiers’, right-wing lone belonging to right-wing groups or organisations in Portugal.
actor terrorists hope for immortalisation by the global right-
wing extremist community. According to media reports, in 2017 and 2018, the
Christchurch attacker donated money to several branches
On 15 March 2019, a 28-year-old Australian national of the Identitarian Movement in Europe. In September 2017,
attacked two mosques in Christchurch (New Zealand) he allegedly provided multiple donations to the French
during Friday prayers, using several firearms including Génération Identitaire and the Austrian IBÖ83. He reportedly
assault rifles. The attacks killed 51 people and injured also exchanged several emails with the IBÖ leader.
dozens. The perpetrator broadcast one of the attacks
through a 17-minute live-stream on Facebook from an On 27 April 2019, a 19-year-old male attacked a synagogue
action camera that he was wearing. In the video, the in Poway (California, USA) during Passover, killing one
attacker commented on the course of the attack, as if woman and injuring three additional people. The attacker
speaking to an audience, and displayed his weapons, which fled but later gave himself up to police. Prior to the attack,
were inscribed with names of historical figures and battles the perpetrator posted racist, including anti-Jewish,
in the fight by European powers against the Ottoman rhetoric on 8Chan. The document praised the Christchurch
Empire. The video was accompanied by a Serbian war song attacks and the attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh on 27
from the Yugoslav war. October 2018 which had killed 11 people. The author also
claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a mosque
Shortly before the attack, the individual posted a in nearby Escondido on 24 March 2019. Graffiti found at
‘manifesto’ entitled ‘The Great Replacement’ and a link the site of the arson referenced the Christchurch attack 84.

81
Europol, EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT), 2012, p. 9.
82
Macklin, G., ‘The El Paso Terrorist Attack: The Chain Reaction of Global Right-Wing Terror’, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 12, Issue 11, December 2019, pp. 1-9, https://
ctc.usma.edu/el-paso-terrorist-attack-chain-reaction-global-right-wing-terror/
83
Zeit Online, Attentäter spendete auch Geld an französische Identitäre, 3 April 2019, https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2019-04/christchurch-attentaeter-
deutschland-rechtsextremismus-generation-identitaire; Schmid, F., ‘Terrorist von Christchurch überwies vier Spenden an identitäre Organisationen in
Europa’, Der Standard, 3 April 2019, https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000100745249/terrorist-von-christchurch-setzte-vier-spenden-an-identitaere-
organisationen-in; Le Parisien, Attentat de Christchurch: Génération identitaire affirme avoir reçu deux dons du tueur, 4 April 2019, http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-
divers/attentat-de-christchurch-generation-identitaire-affirme-avoir-recu-deux-dons-du-tueur-04-04-2019-8046612.php
84
Davis, C,. Laughland, O. and Blackall, M., ‘US synagogue shooting victim who ‘took bullet for all of us’ hailed a hero’, The Guardian, 28 April 2019, https://
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/27/san-diego-police-shooting-synagogue-poway-reports; McGowan, M., ‘San Diego shooting suspect posted
‘open letter’ online’, The Guardian, 28 April 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/28/john-earnest-san-diego-shooting-suspect-posted-
open-letter-online
 TE-SAT 2020 // right-wing terrorism 78

Surrey Right-wing attacks inspired by or

UK
referencing Christchurch 2019
16 March

Christchurch
New Zealand
Poway
27 April 15 March
California, USA

El Paso 3 August
Texas, USA

10 August 9 October ...

Bærum Halle
Norway Germany

In addition, the document contained a link to a live video he targeted the Hispanic community after reading the
stream and to a Facebook page, which seemed to indicate ‘manifesto’ of the Christchurch attacker85.
the perpetrator’s intention to broadcast the shooting using
a similar method to the Christchurch attack. On 10 August 2019, a 21-year-old male lone actor tried
to attack the al-Noor Islamic Centre in Bærum near Oslo
On 3 August 2019, a 21-year-old right-wing extremist (Norway) using hunting firearms, after killing his Chinese-
reportedly attacked a supermarket in El Paso (Texas, born step sister at the family home. After entering the
USA) using an assault rifle, killing 22 people. Prior to the Islamic Centre by force, the perpetrator was stopped by
attack, the perpetrator reportedly posted online that he people inside before being arrested by police. One person
was prepared to die fighting police or the ‘invaders’ (in suffered minor injuries during the fight with the perpetrator,
reference to people of Hispanic origin). After the shooting, but no one was shot. Before the attack, the perpetrator
he surrendered to police. During interviews, he stated that posted an attack declaration on the Endchan online
he deliberately targeted ‘Mexicans’. Prior to the attack, the forum, where he also declared that he was inspired by the
perpetrator allegedly posted a ‘manifesto’ on 8Chan, asking Christchurch attacker.
others to disseminate it. The author stated in his post that

85
Macklin, G., ‘The El Paso Terrorist Attack: The Chain Reaction of Global Right-Wing Terror’, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 12, Issue 11, December 2019, pp. 1-9, https://
ctc.usma.edu/el-paso-terrorist-attack-chain-reaction-global-right-wing-terror/