Two suspects, Dallas Erin Humber and Matthew Robert Allison, have been accused by the US Justice Department of leading a transnational terrorist group that used the messaging app Telegram to incite hate crimes. The department says the group, known as the Terrorgram Collective, promoted white supremacist ideology and aimed to solicit acts of violence against minorities, government officials, and critical infrastructure in the US.
Humber, 34, of Elk Grove, California, and Allison, 37, of Boise, Idaho, were arrested and face 15 federal counts, including soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, distributing bomb-making instructions, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. Justice Department officials say the suspects used Telegram to transmit bomb-making instructions, distribute a list of potential assassination targets, and celebrate violent acts.
The indictment alleges that the pair’s exhortations to commit violence included statements like “Take Action Now” and “Do your part.” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen emphasized the danger posed by the group at a news conference, stating that the department will hold perpetrators of bias-motivated violence accountable.
This announcement from the Justice Department comes as fears of political violence in the US are heightened ahead of the presidential election in November. The founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was also recently detained by French authorities on charges related to allowing criminal activity on the platform, although he has denied these charges. The case involving Humber and Allison underscores the department’s commitment to combating extremism and holding individuals accountable for promoting violence and hatred.
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