Released by the Director-General of Security
The following is summarised information from a Security Intelligence Report. Where possible,
excerpts of the original document have been used. Some details are withheld under section 6(a) of
the Official Information Act 1982 as release would prejudice national security. The individual
responsible for the Christchurch Mosque attacks is referred to as “the attacker”. References to the
individual’s manifesto have been withheld under section 6(c) of the OIA as the document has been
classified as objectionable material by the Chief Censor and therefore release would prejudice the
maintenance of the law.
Christchurch mosques shooter unlikely a member of any
existing extremist group
Report Date: 15 April 2019
Report No: DMS6-15-751
Summary
• It is unlikely the Christchurch attacker was a member of, or was closely affiliated with,
any existing extremist group prior to or at the time of his alleged attacks on two
Christchurch mosques on 15 March 2019, judging from available information to date.
• In 2017 and 2018, the attacker communicated with or donated money to white
supremacist and identitarian groups, although it appears he did not officially join these
groups or become closely affiliated with them.
• Information available to date has not revealed any contact between the attacker and a
group named the reborn Knights Templar, despite his claim a group using that name
provided a ‘blessing’ for his attacks.
• The attacker’s contact with white supremacist and identitarian groups highly likely
helped shape his views on race and immigration, although none of the groups he is
known to have contacted exhibit all aspects of his version of white nationalism.
Report
• Current information indicates the attacker engaged with the fol owing groups:
o Génération Identitaire, a pan-European identitarian movement originating in
France. The attacker made four donations to Génération Identitaire in late
September 2017, including the messages, ‘keep up the good work’ and ‘the fire
rises’ with two of them. Génération Identitaire advocates for the defence of the
identity and culture of white Europeans and refers to the displacement of
Europeans by immigrants as ‘the great replacement’.
o Identitäre Bewegung Österreich (IBO), an identitarian group based in Austria. In
early 2018, the attacker donated €1500 to IBO’s Austria-based leader, Martin
Sel ner. No further transactions between the attacker and Sel ner have been
identified to date, though reporting indicates the two exchanged several emails.
IBO holds similar anti-immigration and anti-Islam values to those expressed by
the attacker.
o The Lads Society (TLS), an Australian white supremacist and national socialist
group. The attacker was a member of a secret Facebook group associated with
1
Released by the Director-General of Security
TLS for most of 2018, and expressed anti-immigrant views in this forum,
according to intelligence.
o Identitären Bewegung Deutschland (IBD), an identitarian group based in
Germany. The attacker ‘liked’ IBD’s Facebook page, but is not known to have had
any contact with the group.
NZSIS Comment
• Although current information indicates the attacker likely remained on the periphery of
white supremacist and identitarian groups, his contact with them highly likely helped
shape his views on race, immigration and the use of violence. The views the attacker
expressed are compatible with and draw on social, political and racial ideas and concepts
common to many extreme right-wing groups. However, none of the groups the attacker
is known to have had contact with exhibit al aspects of his version of white nationalism.
2
