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The Australian federal government has officially recognized the white supremacist network Terrorgram as a terrorist group to help protect Australians from threats of terrorism and violent extremism.
Terrorgram operates as a decentralized online platform that encourages racial supremacy and racially motivated violence.
According to Criminal Code stipulations, being afflicted with Terrorgram in any capacity, such as membership, recruitment, training, funding, or providing assistance, may result in imprisonment for up to 25 years.
The government has identified Terrorgram as an extremist organization known for its nationalist and racist violence, primarily active on encrypted platforms like Telegram.
A statement from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Friday described how “Terrorgram generates and circulates propaganda aimed at inciting terrorist acts targeting minority groups, vital infrastructure, and specific individuals.”
“Terrorgram not only advocates for but also gives guidance on executing terrorist attacks, having already inspired such acts in the USA, Europe, and Asia.”
The United Kingdom proscribed Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation in April 2024, followed by the United States, which listed the collective and three of its leaders as “specially designated global terrorists” in January.
The US state department said attacks or attempted attacks by Terrorgram users, motivated and facilitated by the group, included a shooting outside an LGBTIQ+ bar in Slovakia in October 2022, a planned attack on energy facilities in New Jersey last July and a knife attack at a mosque in Türkiye last August.
Last September, two leaders from Terrorgram in the United States faced charges related to soliciting hate crimes, attempting to murder federal officials, and conspiring to support terrorism.
Speaking to the ABC on Friday morning, Burke said the network is “very different” to others that Australia designates as terrorist organisations.
“When people think about a terrorist group organising, normally you imagine people in small groups meeting in private homes, and gradually recruiting people to their cause before they organise something,” he said.
“This one is more like a giant chat group dedicated to evil, to hatred and to violence.”
Burke said the organisation is a “form of far-right extremism”.
‘Direct threat to Australians’
Speaking to the ABC, Burke said Terrorgram has been a “direct threat to Australians”.
“There has been one attack in particular, that was directly part of this network, that took place,” he said.
“My foremost concern is ensuring the safety of Australians. We aim to address this issue not just through sanctions but with our entire national security framework, a commitment I am dedicated to fulfilling.”
Burke said in the statement that the listing will give Australian police and security and intelligence agencies “significantly more power” to restrict the operation of extremists in the country.
“Online radicalisation is a growing threat but the government has tools at its disposal and we will use every one of them to keep Australians safe,” he said.
“”his group fosters and promotes an ideology that would seek to make some Australians feel unwelcome in their home, it is this extremist hatred which is not welcome and has no place in Australia.”
