The Three Phases of Terrorgram

By Erica Barbarossa

In recent years, Terrorgram has risen to become the bedrock of the militant accelerationism movement. Terrorgram consists of a network of channels and accounts on Telegram which are connected by their shared goal of instigating violence and chaos to hasten the collapse of liberal democratic society. It is within this network that accelerationist actors congregate to create and disseminate hateful propaganda, glorify mass violence attackers, and instigate racially motivated and anti-government attacks.

As with most terrorist movements, militant accelerationist actors depend on online platforms for organizing, community-building, and tactical advancements. Due to the extreme and violent nature of their communications, they are unable to operate on mainstream platforms. After the fall of the now-defunct Iron March forum, Telegram was aptly positioned as the best resource to progress the accelerationist movement, thus establishing the dangerous online community known as Terrorgram. 

This first article will address the evolution of Terrorgram in three phases. It is important to understand these evolutions of Terrorgram, as the shifts within the community are reflective of the tactics, behaviors, and inner workings of the militant accelerationist community.

Phase One (2013-2015)

While militant accelerationism is not new, it is in the digital era that it has evolved into a significant national security threat. The movement’s digital transition began on Iron March, a neo-Nazi forum which functioned as the “town square” for transnational neofascist accelerationist entities to coalesce between 2011 and 2017.[1] Iron March members facilitated the creation of in-group identities known as the skull mask network, established social norms for the movement, and fostered the framework for offline mobilization, with Iron March’s National Action serving as a model for other skull mask group’s to emulate.[2]

The skull mask network transferred this model to Telegram in 2013. Accelerationist actors gravitated towards Telegram for three reasons. First, Telegram´s lower level of content moderation provided a more conducive environment for their activities and provided better functionality than Iron March, other forums and online messaging apps. Second, Telegram’s ability for bulk file sharing provided better opportunities to disseminate propaganda to a large transnational audience, which later materialized in the rampant sharing of digital zines in the third phase of Terrorgram.[3] Third, the site provided anonymity as an added layer of protection for users as they engaged in what they truly needed for the app: transnational networking and community-building while avoiding law enforcement disruption.

During this first phase, it took some time for the network to fully familiarize themselves with the platform. In addition, despite clear intentions to transition to Telegram by groups like Atomwaffen Division (AWD) and The Base, the first phase of Terrorgram was a confusing and amorphous space that lacked a concise and cohesive identity due to a constant revolving door of players and ideological influences. However, as early players began to gradually unify around branded networks, Telegram provided a basis for community-building, with this first wave providing the initial foundational presence that would launch Terrorgram into its zenith, otherwise known as the second phase of Terrorgram.

Phase Two (2015-2019)

Compared to the “Wild West” of its first phase, Terrorgram’s second iteration was an organized ecosystem of key actors and groupuscules largely dominated by the skull mask network.[4] During their recruitment efforts and moves to make alliances, the skull mask groups of the militant accelerationism movement experienced a cataclysmic shift when they were infiltrated by adherents of the Order of Nine Angles (O9A),[5] more specifically those belonging to the O9A “cell” Tempel ov Blood (ToB).

O9A can be best described as an accelerationist, occult radicalization-to-violence pathway, in which individuals embrace unethical and taboo-breaking behavior. In some circumstances, this behavior includes ritualistic murder,[6]animal abuse, and sexual violence against minors.[7] As infiltration of pre-radicalized spaces is a core element of O9A practices (known as “insight roles”), followers of O9A covertly embedded themselves into several skull mask groups, pushing their own ideological beliefs and working as force amplifiers within these groups, to further propel skull masks and unaffiliated accelerationists towards violent action.

This infiltration also occurred overtly as O9A members shared the skull mask network’s accelerationist worldview that society must collapse for a spiritual rebirth to transpire (also known as Traditionalism). This prompted invitations for O9A members to join these groups, such as when Tempel ov Blood members were welcomed into AWD in 2017.[8]The infiltration of O9A into what were the dominating entities of Terrorgram allowed O9A adherents to greatly influence the broader militant accelerationist movement, adjusting its course towards clandestine terroristic violence[9] imbued with occultic tendencies, a legacy that persists today.

The mixing of AWD and ToB also laid the groundwork for the rise of Dark Foreigner,[10] a prolific propagandist whose digital art developed the aesthetic that defined Siege culture. His carefully crafted propaganda saturated Terrorgram until about 2019-2020. His work was specifically designed to amplify pre-existing violent and mobilizing narratives to incite image consumers into partaking in violent action in the name of the white race and/or the accelerationist cause. While Dark Foreigner was arrested by RCMP in 2023, his efforts left a lasting impact within the movement, adding a sophistication to accelerationist propaganda and recruitment efforts.

The last major development of the second phase was the advancement of Saints Culture. While the 2011 attacker Anders Behring Breivik is often understood as the first militant accelerationist Saint, the roots of this phenomenon can be traced to the hero worship for Dylann Roof. Roof killed nine Black churchgoers in South Carolina in 2015. His attack inspired the informal far-right online group known as “Bowl Patrol”,[11] named after Roof’s distinctive bowlcut. The group valorised Roof for his violent efforts in sparking a race war. Representations of Roof saturated Terrorgram at the time, and his fanbase laid the groundwork in which idolizers of Brenton Tarrant would build upon in the third phase of Terrorgram.

The second phase of Terrorgram came to an end in 2019, when key accelerationist individuals and groups[12] were hit by an aggressive spate of arrests by law enforcement. As a result, primary ideological figures in O9A mostly departed Terrorgram for blogs and forums with less law enforcement focus. Consequently, Terrorgram became a space less focused on strict groupings and instead transitioned to a realm of less direct influence.

Phase Three (2019-Present)

During the third phase, Terrorgram has been predominantly spearheaded by the so-called ‘Terrorgram Collective’ and their quest to create mass shooters to further the accelerationist goal. Accelerationists tactically target “latent social divisions”[13] to spark societal collapse which can include issues like gun reform and mass casualty shootings in the United States and abroad. These topics cause severe divisiveness across the political spectrum and can sow fear and distrust. As such, the production of mass shooters for the accelerationist agenda is effective in three ways: (1) it instigates societal friction among the population, (2) its stochastic nature makes law enforcement disruption difficult, and (3) each shooter can serve as a rallying point within the militant accelerationist movement to portray success against the “enemy,” thus serving as an incentive for further violence and other radicalization.  

The third phase of Terrorgram is less dependent on specific brands (e.g., AWD) and focuses efforts on mobilizing concepts-narratives (e.g., The Great Replacement Theory) with a proven record of instigating violence. This shift appears to be a lesson learned from the second phase when Terrorgram operated as a network of individuals and groups with clearer affiliations and identities, which led to vulnerabilities as evidenced by the wave of arrests in 2019.

A key facet of the third phase propaganda machine is the aforementioned Saints Culture. While Bowl Patrol set the scene for Terrorgram’s glorification of terrorists, it was Brenton Tarrant’s 2019 mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand which set in motion a new phase of militant accelerationism.[14] Tarrant earned notoriety for his strategic decisions to establish identifiable aesthetics, such as his decision to live-stream his attacks and his use of symbols and influential manifesto. As such, Tarrant´s work served as a template for future far-right attackers and inspired a number of “disciples” to follow in his stead.[15] Through Saints Culture, Terrorgram serves as an organized effort to guide this decentralized terroristic movement, inspiring, encouraging and guiding further lone attackers. Juraj Krajčík’s 2022 attack in Bratislava, for example was inspired by Terrorgram and also indicated a potential command-and-control element to the Terrorgram Collective’s production of mass shooters after a forensic linguistic analysis of Krajčík’s manifesto suggested the assistance of another author.[16] Krajčík was indeed heralded by the Terrorgram Collective as “Terrrogram’s First Saint,” reflecting how the Collective itself recognized the role of the platform in Krajčík’s actions.

In addition to Saints Culture propagation, the Terrorgram Collective also provides guidance through their production of digital zines. As stated in GNET, [17] the role of these zines is to provide readers (1) explanatory narratives, (2) ideological justifications, (3) tactical lessons, and (4) calls to arms for others to follow. The activating nature of these zines cannot be underappreciated, as AWD founder Brandon Russell and O9A follower Sarah Beth Clendaniel were arrested in 2023 for their involvement in a plot to destroy electrical substations—a preferred tactic of accelerationist destruction discussed in Terrorgram zines.

Conclusion

 Terrorgram’s third phase could well be coming to an end for similar reasons to the demise of its second phase: law enforcement disruption. Recent arrests have targeted individuals believed to be affiliated with the Collective, [18]suspected of participating in the production of Terrorgram publications. This could significantly disrupt the network’s propaganda output and their continued efforts to incite and support terrorism.

Additionally, the United Kingdom has proscribed the Terrorgram Collective as a terrorist organisation.[19] This could likely force Terrorgram to adapt how it operates moving forward, especially if other countries follow suit. Terrorgram’s proscription will place added pressure on platforms to remove their content. Given how there has already been a possible downturn of Saints Culture and Terrorgram-branded publications in recent years alongside the short-lived nature of many groups and networks within the militant accelerationist movement, this added pressure to a network with such a fluid and online presence, could well kill them off or force another dramatic evolution.

However, there is a need for continued vigilance. Terrorgram still remains as a critical tool and ecosystem for the militant accelerationism movement and their actions in trying to dismantle liberal society. The publications of Terrorgram are likely to continue to circulate and will continue posing a threat of inciting and supporting terrorism. The removal of content from Telegram will also likely present many challenges as the platform’s lower level of content moderation fosters an environment where it can continue to spread. In addition, the hydra-like threat of militant accelerationism has helped it remain resilient against law enforcement pressure in the past, including against entities such as AWD and The Base. There is plenty of reason to believe that Terrorgram could well evolve into yet another effective form in a fourth phase.  

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[1] H.E Upchurch, “The Iron March Forum and the evolution of the “Skull Mask” Neo-Fascist Network,” Combating Terrorism Center, December 22, 2021. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-iron-march-forum-and-the-evolution-of-the-skull-mask-neo-fascist-network/. 

[2] Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism (CTEC), Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: National Action, August 23, 2023. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-5.  

[3] Matthew Kriner and Bjørn Ihler, “Analysing Terrorgram Publications: A New Digital Zine,” Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET), September 12, 2022, https://gnet-research.org/2022/09/12/analysing-terrorgram-publications-a-new-digital-zine/ 

[4] Ibid.

[5]  CTEC, Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Order of Nine Angles, January 2, 2024. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-order-nine. 

[6] Justin Ling, “Suspect in Grisly Mosque Murder Was Obsessed with ‘Race War’ Group.” The Daily Beast, March 21, 2022. https://www.thedailybeast.com/suspect-in-canadian-mosque-murder-was-obsessed-with-race-war-group-order-of-the-nine-angles.  

[7] United States Department of Justice - Eastern District of New York, “Queens Man Charged with Child Exploitation, Enticement of Minors and Firearm Possession as a Felon,” February 1, 2023. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/queens-man-charged-child-exploitation-enticement-minors-and-firearm-possession-felon.  

[8] CTEC. “Order of Nine Angels,” 2024.

[9] H.E. Upchurch, The Iron March Forum, CCT, 2021. 

[10] Isabela Bernardo and Matthew Kriner. “‘A New Image of Terror and Dread’: The Significance of Dark Foreigner’s Arrest, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET), September 12, 2023. https://gnet-research.org/2023/09/25/the-significance-of-dark-foreigners-arrest/.  

[11] Chris Schiano, “‘Bowl Patrol’: Dylann Roof Fans Hope to Inspire More Mass Shootings.” UNICORN RIOT, December 29, 2023. https://unicornriot.ninja/2019/bowl-patrol-dylann-roof-fans-hope-to-inspire-more-mass-shootings/. 

[12] CTEC, Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Atomwaffen Division, April 12, 2023. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-4.  

[13] Matthew Kriner, “An Introduction to Militant Accelerationism,” Accelerationism Research Consortium (ARC), June 22, 2022. https://www.accresearch.org/shortanalysis/an-introduction-to-militant-accelerationism. 

[14] Kristina Hummel, “The Christchurch Attacks: Livestream Terror in the Viral Video Age,” Combating Terrorism Center, December 28, 2020. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/christchurch-attacks-livestream-terror-viral-video-age/.  

[15] Matthew Kriner, Erica Barbarossa, and Isabela Bernardo, “The Buffalo Terrorist Attack: Situating Lone Actor Violence into the Militant Accelerationism Landscape,” Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, June 23, 2023. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/buffalo-terrorist-attack-situating-lone-actor.

[16] Julia Kupper, Kacper Rekawek, and Matthew Kriner, “Terrorgram’s First Saint: Analyzing Accelerationist Terrorism in Bratislava,” ARC, March 29, 2023. https://www.accresearch.org/accreports/terrorgrams-first-saint. 

[17] Matthew Kriner and Bjørn Ihler, “Analysing Terrorgram,” GNET, 2022.

[18] Mack Lamoureux, “Authorities Name Alleged Neo-Nazis Charged with Terrorism.” VICE, December 8, 2023. https://www.vice.com/en/article/3akyz8/neo-nazis-arrested. 

[19] UK Home Office, “Terrorgram Collective Now Proscribed as Terrorist Organisation,” April 26, 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/terrorgram-collective-now-proscribed-as-terrorist-organisation.