White supremacist terror network on Telegram exposed: What is the 'Terrorgram Collective'?

The United States Department of Justice, on Monday, announced sweeping charges against two leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, an extremist white supremacist network alleged to be plotting a global campaign of racially motivated violence through the social media app Telegram.

US Prosecutors say Dallas Humber, 34, of Elk Grove, California, and Matthew Allison, 37, of Boise, Idaho, are behind a wave of extremist content intended to incite hate crimes, assassinations, and the eventual collapse of society to start a race war.

The charges have highlighted the evolving threat posed by extremist groups operating in the dark corners of the internet, using platforms like Telegram to spread white supremacist propaganda and solicit acts of violence.

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The case has also cast a spotlight on Telegram’s role in hosting hate groups and its moderation challenges, with its founder Pavel Durov recently being detained in France on unrelated charges linked to the platform’s use for criminal activities.

Who are the “Terrorgram Collective”?

The Terrorgram Collective is an online white supremacist network that originated on Telegram, a messaging platform known for its privacy and encryption features. According to the indictment, Humber and Allison took leadership of the group in 2022, after the previous leaders faced terrorism-related investigations.

The collective is built around the ideology of “white supremacist accelerationism,” which posits that societal collapse and racial war are necessary to establish a white ethnostate.

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The group operates through Telegram, an app that allows users to create private, encrypted channels and group chats, giving extremist networks the cover they need to spread their ideology without fear of detection.

“Today’s indictment charges the defendants with leading a transnational terrorist group dedicated to attacking America’s critical infrastructure, targeting a hit list of our country’s public officials, and carrying out deadly hate crimes — all in the name of violent white supremacist ideology,” said US Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Today’s arrests are a warning that committing hate-fueled crimes in the darkest corners of the internet will not hide you, and soliciting terrorist attacks from behind a screen will not protect you. The United States Department of Justice will find you, and we will hold you accountable.”

How does this group operate?

The group utilises multiple Telegram channels and group chats to distribute content that promotes violent action. This content often glorifies past white supremacist attacks, provides instructions for carrying out violent acts, and solicits followers to target racial minorities, government officials, and critical infrastructure.

Their aim, prosecutors argue, is not only to spread hate but to incite their followers to commit real-world acts of terror.

The Terrorgram Collective has used Telegram to promote its violent message to a global audience, urging followers to carry out attacks wherever they can. The indictment alleges that the group’s leaders called for attacks on key infrastructure, such as federal buildings and energy facilities, believing these acts would hasten societal collapse.

Court documents reveal how Humber and Allison encouraged their followers with slogans like “Take Action Now” and “Do your part,” prompting members to carry out acts of violence. Prosecutors say they supplied bomb-making instructions and offered tactical advice for conducting terror attacks. In one case, a follower allegedly used their guidance to plan an attack on an energy facility in New Jersey.

The Terrorgram Collective’s digital reach is extensive. Prosecutors said the group’s influence extends well beyond the US, inspiring attacks across Europe and even in Turkey.

The group’s online nature makes it difficult for authorities to track down and dismantle, as its content is dispersed across multiple channels and often disappears as quickly as it appears. This gives the collective a level of anonymity and protection from immediate law enforcement actions.

In US court filings, the collective is described as a “hub” for racially motivated violence, with members encouraged to become “Saints” through acts of terror. One of their documents, *The Hard Reset*, offers detailed steps for making explosives such as napalm, pipe bombs, and chlorine gas, while another, *The List*, identifies “high-value” targets for assassination, including government officials and prominent figures.

Prosecutors allege that the pair had compiled a hit list featuring a US senator, a federal district judge, a former US attorney, and other figures viewed as enemies of white supremacy.

What are the charges against the accused?

The charges allege that Humber and Allison were not just disseminating hateful rhetoric — they were actively encouraging and equipping followers to commit attacks. US Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said the indictment “reflects the department’s response to the new technological face of white supremacist violence.”

The group’s content allegedly included bomb-making instructions, as well as detailed strategies for avoiding detection by law enforcement while executing attacks on federal buildings and energy infrastructure.

Leaders of Transnational Terrorist Group Charged with Soliciting Hate Crimes, Soliciting the Murder of Federal Officials, and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

🔗: https://t.co/LinF7suA5k pic.twitter.com/xKOrkqQn3b

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) September 9, 2024

Among the most shocking revelations is the group’s celebration of violent acts perpetrated by their followers. The indictment cites several examples, including the 2022 stabbing of five people outside a mosque in Turkey and a deadly shooting at an LGBTQ bar in Slovakia, where two people were killed. An attack on energy facilities in New Jersey was also mentioned in the indictment.

The attackers were praised and their actions glorified by the Terrorgram Collective. In the case of the Slovakia shooter, Humber reportedly narrated his manifesto and released it as an audiobook, declaring him the group’s “first Saint.”

Humber and Allison are accused of producing a 24-minute documentary titled White Terror, which celebrates 105 acts of white supremacist violence committed between 1968 and 2021.

The film refers to attackers as “the best of our brothers” and assures future perpetrators that their actions will be immortalised. Prosecutors say the documentary and other propaganda materials are designed to radicalise followers and push them toward violent acts.

What role has Telegram played in this?

Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, has come under fire for its role in facilitating extremist content. Though the app is widely used for legitimate purposes, it has also gained notoriety as a platform for criminal networks, extremist groups, and terrorists.

Telegram’s privacy features and lax moderation policies have made it a preferred choice for groups like the Terrorgram Collective.

Durov himself was detained in France last month on unrelated charges concerning the platform’s use for criminal activities such as drug trafficking and child pornography. He has since been released, but the case has reignited debates about the responsibility of social media executives for the content shared on their platforms.

Durov defended Telegram, stating that while the app is not “some sort of anarchic paradise,” the rapid growth of its user base — reportedly around 950 million — has made it challenging to control. He vowed to take stronger actions against harmful content, saying, “We take down millions of harmful posts and channels every day.”

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Despite these assurances, Telegram’s moderation efforts have been criticised as insufficient. A spokesperson for Telegram, Remi Vaughn, reiterated, “Calls to violence have no place on Telegram’s platform. Moderators removed several channels that used variations of the ‘Terrorgram’ name when they were discovered years ago. Similar content is banned whenever it appears.”

However, the Terrorgram Collective continues to operate, highlighting the difficulties of completely eradicating extremist content from digital platforms. Telegram’s emphasis on user privacy, combined with the platform’s global reach, creates an environment where groups like Terrorgram can continue to flourish in relative anonymity.

What next?

Both Humber and Allison face a total of 15 criminal charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, soliciting hate crimes, and soliciting the assassination of federal officials. If convicted on all counts, each could face up to 220 years in prison.

Humber has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and it is unclear if Allison has legal representation. The indictment also raises concerns about the growing influence of online extremist networks and the challenge of policing hate speech and terrorism in the digital age.

The US Justice Department has made it clear that they are prepared to combat this new breed of digital extremism. “This case reflects the department’s determination to hold accountable those who hide behind computer screens to incite violence and terrorism,” said Kristen Clarke.

US Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen added, “These are not mere words. Their intent is to inspire others to commit real-world acts of violence, and they provide the means and encouragement to do so.”

With inputs from agencies