In September, American authorities arrested Dallas Humber and Matthew Allison, two American leaders of an online group known as "Terrorgram." They have been charged with soliciting hate crimes, conspiring to murder federal officials, and providing material support to terrorists. Their arrest comes after the United Kingdom officially listed Terrorgram as a terrorist organization earlier this year. With links to multiple acts of violence, including the 2022 Bratislava Slovakia shooting, this group represents a modern form of terrorism — one that is decentralized and largely driven by online propaganda inspired by meme and gaming cultures. Their 2022 publication “The Hard Reset” features instructions for how to build bombs, utilizing Minecraft aesthetics and edgy humor to connect with a young audience.

Terrorgram operates unlike traditional terrorist organizations. Instead of a tightly knit hierarchy, it functions as a loose collective of individuals committed to spreading hate-fueled propaganda and encouraging lone wolf attacks. It is not bound by borders. A tragic case in point: the 2022 Bratislava shooting, where two people were killed by an individual who referenced Terrorgram in his manifesto. This shooter, inspired by Terrorgram's rhetoric, drew from the horrific example set by the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings in New Zealand. Here, we see how terror transcends geography. The connections may be virtual, but the consequences are brutally real. Each attack serves to increase the propaganda, livestreaming an attack to an online audience ensures that it can recorded, saved, and distributed to incite further acts of violence.

Terrorgram's message is shockingly direct and simple: commit acts of mass violence and earn glory. Its propaganda glorifies attackers as “Saints,” creating a dark incentive structure for violent acts. This incentive ensures that an attacker won’t languish in obscurity but rather be
idolized. Beyond mass shootings, the group also advocates for attacks on critical infrastructure, such as power substations, aiming to destabilize society and incite chaos. “The Hard Reset” spends 47 out of its 261 pages advocating for attacks on critical infrastructure.

Traditionally, these have not been targets for acts of terrorism and are considered “soft targets”, lacking protection against harm. In 2023, there were 185 attacks on American grid infrastructure, more than double the number in 2021. Due to this there has been an increasing focus on protecting critical infrastructure against attacks, with the Department of Homeland Security identifying critical infrastructure as an area that needs protection in their 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment Report.

The arrest of Humber and Allison marks a critical shift in how authorities are addressing online extremism. For too long, the internet has served as an unregulated breeding ground for radicalization. Groups like Terrorgram thrive by exploiting free speech protections and the
anonymity of the digital world. But as these arrests demonstrate, U.S. officials are beginning to acknowledge the growing threat of online extremism and are taking meaningful action.

This is a significant moment. It signals that no matter how decentralized a terrorist organization may be, there are consequences for those who promote and enable violence, even if they never pull a trigger themselves. By holding Terrorgram’s leaders accountable, we may be
turning a corner in the fight against online extremism. It’s a reminder that, in today’s digital age, the battle against terrorism isn’t just in person — it’s on our screens.