Members of Parliament (MPs) have voted unanimously to ban Terrorgram, an online terror network. This marks the first time an online group has been designated as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom. Terrorgram will join a list of 81 other banned organizations in the UK, including five other extreme right-wing groups. The group’s propaganda incites violence and has been linked to a 2022 shooting in Slovakia that killed two people at an LGBT nightclub. Home Office minister Tom Tugendhat condemned Terrorgram as a “transnational, online network of neo-fascist terrorists who produce and disseminate violent propaganda with the aim of radicalising readers and encouraging individuals to commit acts of terrorism.” Tugendhat highlighted the group’s virulent white supremacist ideology, which advocates for the collapse of Western democracy and the establishment of a whites-only world. He emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting the LGBT community from Terrorgram’s antisemitism and incitement of violence against Jewish communities. Shadow Home Office minister Dan Jarvis welcomed the move and called for the proscription of more online groups if necessary, highlighting the relentless and adaptable approach required to combat terrorist threats. SNP home affairs spokeswoman Alison Thewliss stressed the insidious nature of online extremism, emphasizing that exposure to “lower level” content can lead to radicalization. Despite her concerns about the starting point of extremism, Thewliss acknowledged the importance of proscribing groups like Terrorgram to prevent atrocities. The motion passed without opposition, underscoring the government’s commitment to addressing the dangers posed by online terrorism.
UK Bans Online Terror Network Terrorgram
