The United States on Monday banned a far-right online network, declaring the “Terrorgram” group a terrorist group and accusing it of promoting violent white supremacy.
The US State Department said in a statement that it had designated the group, which operates primarily on the Telegram social media site, and three of its leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The State Department said the group has inspired and facilitated attacks by users and attempted attacks, including a 2022 shooting outside an LGBTQ bar in Slovakia, a planned attack in 2024 on energy facilities in New Jersey and an attack in Turkey in August. Involves a knife attack on a mosque.
The State Department said, “The group promotes violent white supremacy, calls for attacks on perceived opponents, and provides guidance and instructional materials on tactics, methods, and targets for attacks, including critical infrastructure and government officials.”
The action freezes any U.S. assets of the group and blocks Americans from dealing with it.
According to the statement, the leaders who were sanctioned on Monday were based in Brazil, Croatia and South Africa.
In September, US prosecutors unsealed criminal charges against two alleged leaders of the group, saying they used Telegram to attack Black, Jewish, LGBTQ people and immigrants with the aim of inciting a race war.
Britain said in April it would ban the Terrorgram collective as a terrorist organization, meaning belonging to or promoting the group would become a criminal offense in the country.
US President Joe Biden has raised his voice against white supremacy while in office.
In 2021, Biden launched the first US national strategy to counter domestic terrorism, which included resources to identify and prosecute threats and new deterrents to prevent Americans from joining dangerous groups.
