DOJ charges Californians for leading white supremacist race war

The Justice Department charged two individuals from California on Monday, accusing them of leading a white supremacist group aiming to ignite a race war in the United States. Dallas Humber and Matthew Allison allegedly led a group called “Terrorgram,” which formed on an encrypted social media platform.

The charges include solicitation of killing a federal official, doxing federal officials, and making interstate threats. The indictment claims the group’s goal was to incite a race war, collapse the government, and establish a white ethno-state. They allegedly used Telegram to promote white supremacist accelerationism.

The indictment details that the group solicited terrorist attacks on government infrastructure and high-value targets, including U.S. senators, federal judges, and local officials. Allison allegedly urged followers to “take action now” and “do your part.”

The arrests illustrate the significant threat posed by white supremacist-inspired extremism globally, according to top DOJ officials. Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen stated that domestic terrorism, particularly by white supremacists, is the most lethal form of domestic violent extremism in the U.S.

Olsen and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasised federal law enforcement is adapting to these evolving threats.

Clarke noted that the case represents a high threat level, with the group exploiting social media to incite violence, provide bomb-making instructions, and compile hit lists. She added that the DOJ aims to send a strong message that such activities cannot hide behind a computer screen.

The indictment highlights three instances where the group’s followers allegedly carried out violent attacks. A 19-year-old from Slovakia killed two people at an LGBT bar and sent a manifesto to Humber, who narrated it into an audiobook.

Another case involved 18-year-old Andrew Taskhistov from New Jersey, who was allegedly incited to plot an attack on an energy facility. A third case involved an 18-year-old from Turkey who livestreamed a stabbing attack outside a mosque.

The DOJ claims the group’s strategy included targeting critical infrastructure. Humber and Allison also allegedly created a documentary celebrating racist incidents from 1968 onwards. They allegedly emphasized the need for covert operations.