A Quebec City area teen is facing terrorism charges for alleged promotion of “violent ideology” connected to a neo-Nazi group on social media.
The RCMP said that the eastern region section of the national police force found the teen promoting a “low-profile” site inspired by the Atomwaffen Division (AWD), also known as the National Socialist Resistance Front.
RCMP spokesperson Sergeant Erique Gasse said the investigation began in 2024, and officers were able to charge him this week.
“We seized some items when we searched two houses in the Quebec region,” said Gasse. “And at the time, he had to sign a peace bond to stay quiet about terrorist activity, and he did stay quiet.”
He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
According to the George Washington University-based Program on Extremism, the AWD is an international neo-Nazi organization founded in 2015 by Bahamas native Brandon Russell.
The AWD, the program says, has cells across Europe and North America, and members have been implicated in almost a dozen murders across the globe.
An Ottawa man was sentenced in September to 10 years in prison for the promotion of hate propaganda against Jewish people that was produced for the group.
More younger people being radicalized
Gasse said that cases of young people being radicalized are increasing. He said the COVID-19 pandemic and tense geopolitical state of international relations have caused stress and led some young people to seek out easily accessible radical voices.
“It’s quite easy for the young people to get radicalized on the internet,” said Gasse.
A red flag, he said, is when a child distances himself or herself from friends and the family circle and spends more time on the internet.
“They can have a couple of computers, we see that sometimes,” said Gasse, adding that they will try to hide their search and browsing history from their parents.
The RCMP has tips for parents who notice their children becoming more aggressive and potentially seeking out violent extremist sites:
- Noticing signs and asking children questions about content
- Monitoring and understanding children’s online activities
- Accessing available community and government-based programs for support and intervention strategies
Those with questions or concerns can contact the RCMP’s national security information network at 1-800-420-5805.
--With files from The Canadian Press.
