DOJ charges 2 white supremacy group leaders in Telegram terrorism probe

Karah Rucker

TWO WHITE SUPREMACISTS HAVE BEEN CHARGED BY THE DOJ WITH LEADING A DIGITAL TERRORIST GROUP AND INCITING A SERIES OF HATE CRIMES. 

34 YEAR OLD DALLAS HUMBER FROM ELK GROVE, CALIFORNIA –

AND 37 YEAR OLD MATTHEW ALLISON FROM BOISE, IDAHO –

FACE A 15-COUNT INDICTMENT THAT INCLUDES CHARGES OF SOLICITING HATE CRIMES, CONSPIRING TO SUPPORT TERRORISM, AND SOLICITING THE MURDER OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA DESCRIBES HUMBER AND ALLISON AS LEADERS OF THE “TERRORGRAM COLLECTIVE” –

A TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. 

PROSECUTORS SAY THE GROUP USED THE MESSAGING PLATFORM TELEGRAM TO PROMOTE THEIR EXTREMIST IDEOLOGY, WHICH CALLS FOR VIOLENCE TO START A RACE WAR AND DISMANTLE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.

ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, HUMBER AND ALLISON SPREAD PROPAGANDA, OFFERED DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMITTING CRIMES, AND CREATED A LIST OF “HIGH-VALUE TARGETS” FOR ASSASSINATION. 

THIS LIST INCLUDED NAMES OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, ALONG WITH LEADERS FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES. 

THE PLANNED ATTACKS TARGETED INDIVIDUALS BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY, ACCORDING TO THE DOJ.

SOME ATTACKS INSPIRED BY THEIR GROUP WERE CARRIED OUT OR DISRUPTED, INCLUDING A SHOOTING OUTSIDE AN LGBTQ BAR IN SLOVAKIA, A PLANNED ATTACK ON AN ENERGY FACILITY IN NEW JERSEY, AND A STABBING NEAR A MOSQUE IN TURKEY.

IF CONVICTED, HUMBER AND ALLISON COULD FACE UP TO 220 YEARS IN PRISON. ALLISON IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN COURT ON TUESDAY. 

TELEGRAM HAS BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT EVER SINCE ITS CEO WAS ARRESTED IN FRANCE – ACCUSED OF ENABLING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE APP.

LAST WEEK PAVEL DUROV RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING CHANGES WERE COMING TO THE APP TO ALLOW FOR MORE OVERSIGHT – 

BUT ALSO CRITICIZED HIS ARREST FOR WHAT BAD ACTORS DO ON HIS PLATFORM AS A “MISGUIDED APPROACH” TO A SOLUTION.

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