KEY POINTS

  • The FBI and Department of Justice crackdown on neo-Nazi groups in the US have led to the arrest of five Atomwaffen members
  • Atomwaffen founder and former leader John Cameron Denton was arrested for his involvement in "swatting" attacks
  • Four other members of the white supremacist groups were arrested in four different states after they allegedly targeted journalists and activists

In line with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's reinvigorated mission to suppress neo-Nazi groups in the United States, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday the arrest of five men associated with Atomwaffen Division following their threats and “swatting” activities.

Atomwaffen founder and former leader John Cameron Denton was arrested in Virginia for his alleged involvement in several “swatting” attacks that centered on a US cabinet official, a university in Virginia and a local African-American church, federal prosecutors in Alexandria, Virginia told AFP.

Also included in Denton's “swatting” list was ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism group based in New York City and one of their mainstay reporters.

Neo-Nazism
Members of a white supremacy group give the fascist salute during a gathering in West Allis, Wisconsin, Sep. 3, 2011. REUTERS/Darren Hauck

The suspect allegedly conspired with other Atomwaffen members and made prank call using an encrypted app called Mumble. They then tricked dispatch officers in believing that Denton's targets are in grave danger, resulting in unnecessary responses, said ABC News, citing a statement from the criminal affidavit.

The affidavit further stated that Denton targeted ProPublica and its reporter “because he was furious” that they published his true identity and his role in the white supremacist group, the outlet added.

Meanwhile, the DOJ's Seattle branch revealed the arrest of four Attomwaffen Division members in four different states for allegedly targeting journalists.

Cameron Brandon Shea, 24, Kaleb Cole, 24, Taylor Ashley Parker-Dipeppe, 20 and Johnny Roman Garza, 20 were apprehended after they conspired together and used encrypted online chat groups to name their target journalists.

As part of their strategy, the group sent intimidating posters to journalists and activists that showed an image of a reporter with a message, “Two can play at this game” and “Death to pigs.”

Federal prosecutors pointed that Shea is a high-level member and main recruiter for Atomwaffen. He also instigated a “Death Valley Hate Camp” in January 2018 where he trained members in “hand to hand combat, firearms and created neo-Nazi propaganda videos and pictures of themselves posing with weapons.”

“We have individuals who were involved in an intimidation campaign, put personalized messages to journalists, members of our Jewish community to intimidate them and potentially act out of violence,” FBI Counterterrorism Division assistant director Jill Sandborn said, through ABC News.

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