Washington

Arrests in Four States of Racially Motivated Violent Extremists Targeting Journalists and Activists

Four racially motivated violent extremists from across the United States were arrested and charged with a conspiracy to threaten and intimidate journalists, focusing primarily on those who are Jewish or journalists of color.

According to the criminal complaint, the defendants conspired through an online chat group to identify journalists and others they wanted to intimidate. Two of the defendants created posters that included Nazi symbols, masked figures with guns and Molotov cocktails, and threatening language. The posters were delivered to Atomwaffen members electronically, and the co-conspirators printed and delivered or mailed the posters to journalists or activists the group was targeting. In Seattle, the posters were mailed to a TV journalist who had reported on Atomwaffen and to two individuals associated with the Anti-Defamation League. In Phoenix, the poster was delivered to a magazine journalist.

These charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Complaint: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/press-release/file/1252306/download

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/arrests-four-states-racially-motivated-violent-extremists-targeting-journalists-and