UK
Neo-Nazi who shared arson advice with British rioters made video outside synagogue
The extremist posted Hamas propaganda videos and praised Hitler on an encryped messaging platform
August 14, 2024 10:47
The extremist posted Hamas propaganda videos and praised Hitler on an encryped messaging platform
August 14, 2024 10:47A Finnish neo-Nazi who shared locations to attack and advice on how to commit arson as riots swept Britain previously published Hamas propaganda videos and praised Hitler.
Following the wave of disorder, the government has said it will “go after” influencers who promoted violence online.
“Whether you're directly involved or whether you're remotely involved, you're culpable and you will be put before the courts if you've broken the law,” Sir Keir Starmer said last week.
One of those who may yet be pursued by the British police for his role in stoking criminality is a man in his early 20s living in the south of Finland, the nation’s national broadcaster has revealed.
The extremist, who has not been named publicly, was the co-administrator of a far right channel on the encryped messaging app Telegram that attempted to coordinate attacks on migration advice services and immigration lawers across Britain.
Southport Wake Up, the JC previously revealed, also pushed extreme pro-Nazi content including a Holocaust denial documentary.
At the time, the Community Security Trust said they had alerted Jewish bodies near one of the immigration lawyers named by its administrators as a precaution.
Amid widespread disorder during far right protests and riots, a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers was set on fire, and non-white people were attacked on the street.
According to broadcaster Yle, the Finnish man behind Southport Wake Up told group members how they could protect their identity and shared a file with detailed instructions on how to commit arson.
The document was initially created by a Russian-Ukrainian neo-Nazi group, Red Flare, a British anti-fascist research group, has said.
"Something fun for you to read," the Finnish extremist said as he shared it.
In another message he wrote: "I don't like the fact that there is no clear picture of the situation and leadership here.”
The Finn is also said to have boasted that he used his administrative powers to “clean out the Jews” from the chat.
According to Yle, while the man has never been convicted of a serious crime, he has claimed to be the subject of a 2021 police investigation.
Finnish authorities, he said, raided his home and confiscated some hard drives because they suspected he was planning an attack that could endanger life.
The 20-something man has also reportedly run a different Telegram channel through which he promoted Nazism.
While he disavowed terrorism, Yle said, he encouraged readers to work to destroy "the accursed Jews".
In a video posted to Telegram, he can be seen speaking as he walks around Helsinki Synagogue in the Finnish capital.
"Will you rise on top of the mountain and yell 'not ever again?' Make this choice because at this point it's a case of you surviving and you dying,” he said.
"We are tired of explaining to you why we want national socialism.”
The Finn is also said to have posted Hamas propaganda videos to Telegram.
According to Red Flare, the same man is in a private chat on the same app run by Britain’s largest far right group, Patriotic Alternative.
Under the name “AryanizedGoebbelboo” he has said he may attempt to reveal the identities of the group’s opponents.
When confronted at his home by a Yle reporter, the man is said to have acknowledged that he was an active member of Southport Wake Up.
Asked what he hoped to achieve with his posts, he said: "Nothing comes to mind."
As to whether he believed he bore any responsibility for the riots, he said: "I wouldn't say so."
After the interview ended, Yle said, the man returned to Telegram to share a test that purportedly reveals how antisemitic one is. He scored 92 out of 100.