The Threat from Extremist Groups Is Growing. Service Members and Vets Are Getting Sucked into the Vi [View all]

Source: Military.com

The Threat from Extremist Groups Is Growing. Service Members and Vets Are Getting Sucked into the Violence.

5 Apr 2023
Military.com | By Travis Tritten , Drew F. Lawrence , Konstantin Toropin and Steve Beynon

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Russell seemingly went everywhere in his Army uniform, wanting to project an image of "Mr. All-American," one of the roommate's parents would recall. Beneath that uniform, on his right shoulder, the leader had an Atomwaffen Division shield tattoo.

He was released in 2021, but was arrested again in February of this year, along with an alleged female accomplice, and charged with masterminding a plan to blow up Baltimore's electric grid. The goal was to cause as much suffering as possible in the city during times of extreme heat or cold, according to prosecutors.

Atomwaffen, which federal authorities say also now goes by the name the National Socialist Order with an unknown number of members given its disparate cell structure, is just one example of the growing and urgent threat that violent extremists pose to the U.S., according to experts and federal authorities.

And at the lead of some of those organizations, pushed to the front both because of their skills and the respect their service engenders, are service members and veterans like Russell.

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Read more: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/04/05/threat-extremist-groups-growing-service-members-and-vets-are-getting-sucked-violence.html