Finnish man identified as administrator of notorious Telegram group linked to UK riots

A Finnish man has been identified as an administrator of one of the most infamous Telegram groups linked to riots in the UK. He has shared advice within the group on topics such as arson, protecting identities, and selecting targets. Researchers have traced his involvement back to the organization of disturbances in Britain through Telegram.

Tommi Kotonen, an expert in far-right movements and an associate professor at the University of Jyväskylä, expressed that the Finnish involvement is not particularly surprising. He noted a significant presence of Finnish individuals in far-right Telegram groups. “Online communities are broadly interconnected today. Some groups maintain international networks even outside the internet,” he explained.

Kotonen cited the far-right and overtly racist Active Club as an example, which also operates in Finland. This organization, originating from the United States, has attracted members through social media. The investigative group Bellingcat reported international guests also participated in Finland’s far-right annual White Boy Summer Fest.

However, Finland cannot be viewed as a central hub for far-right networks. “Instead, influences generally come to Finland from countries like Sweden, Germany, and the United States. These are the focal points,” Kotonen said.

Kotonen highlighted that anti-immigrant sentiments are a unifying factor for international far-right networks. Social media has facilitated collaboration among like-minded individuals, enabling them to provide support, share advice, and spread information. “The underlying intention might be to promote a broader ideology that they believe will also benefit their activities at home, but personal motivations can also play a role,” he added regarding the reasons for participation.

The Finnish Security Intelligence Service has assessed that the threat of far-right terrorism has increased in Finland. Far-right groups operate in a networked manner, and several crimes linked to these groups have been investigated by the police in recent years.