Gardaí are investigating a social media account linked to a far-right group targeting migrants that showed members how to make explosives, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
The same TikTok account also posted sinister threats to "kill" Muslims and footage of a "hideout deep in the mountains all cleaned up and ready," without detailing the camp’s purpose.
It comes as gardaí are becoming increasingly concerned about the rise of vigilante groups and violent attacks on migrants across the country.
A senior security source this weekend warned vigilante attacks on asylum seekers are "worryingly becoming more organised."
They also expressed concern that local groups are banding together under an umbrella far-right group that could post "a more organised" security threat.
In recent weeks, reports have emerged of checkpoints being set up by vigilante groups around the country.
One group based in the capital claims it now has 60 members patrolling the city at night.
Another group in the north west has attracted 2,000 members and claims it is highlighting the "dangers" of the "plantation of unvetted and non-nationals."
Security sources are understood to be particularly concerned about a member of a group in the Midlands that posted images of bomb making materials on social media.
The individual who posted the disturbing messages has had his TikTok account shut down on several occasions, but later reappears on the video-sharing platform under a different username. He also has posted similar hate-filled material on private Telegram groups.
Last week he posted a bizarre message claiming "the government and there [sic] NGOs are trying to silence" him, along with a diagram explaining how to use a "transistor as a switch."
Under the post, he commented: "Use yer heads."
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A member of a group that monitors online extremists said the account is part of a "gang operating online teaching people how to make explosives." They told the MoS: "It’s also part of a larger group on TikTok that spreads anti-immigration propaganda in Ireland. The guy who runs it’s been part of local 'says no' protests."
Another source said the directions on the diagram detail how to ignite an explosive device "from a simple controller."
The same account also posted a sinister picture of a masked man standing outside a nursing home in the Midlands. They were armed with a wooden stick standing in front of signs that read "60 unvetted" and "no unvetted men."
In the same post, the person behind the account declares the "war will start a home." Another post on the account featured a tricolour with the words "Islamic dogs" and "Islam not welcome" next to fire emojis.
A voiceover on the post states: "Anyone who comes into my house or my country and tries to take over, I’m going to kill ’em and I’ll use any and every means to do it."
The account attracts several messages of support. One named individual challenged others to "stand up, sheep."
Another post this week claimed a "time is coming when good men will have to do bad things," under which some people posted clap and thumbs up emojis.
A security source said the posts showing others how to make explosives are "seriously concerning" and would "fall into the grounds of subversive activity."
Gardaí are concerned by the violent rhetoric being used by far-right figures and the "level of volatility" of some groups calling for attacks on immigrants.
A source told the MoS: "We have moderate extremists right to the hard core in Ireland and gardaí keep a close eye [on them], though the capacity to monitor the internet and darknet is limited."
The Garda Special Detective Unit (SDU) commenced a dedicated operation to "monitor, surveil, investigate and disrupt" right wing extremist groups in 2020.
The SDU operation is supported by the National Surveillance Unit and also "links in" with the UK’s counter terrorism policing as well as international law enforcement agencies in Europe and the US.
The Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service supports the SDU in "intelligence processing and international liaison."
The SDU also deploys teams to organised far-right protests to gather intelligence.
Amid the rise of extremist groups across the EU in recent years, security sources this weekend said the far-right threat to the State is "very real."
A source noted: "We’re down the road of a more volatile right-wing threat and we need to effectively deal with that before it is too late."
The MoS previously reported how gardaí are growing increasingly concerned about assaults by vigilante groups.
Attacks on foreign nationals accused – without proof – of sexually assaulting or abducting children became commonplace on social media last year.
Violent incidents were recorded and uploaded online where they were shared online widely by known far-right agitators.
Asked about the diagram containing details of explosives components, gardaí said "enquiries into this matter are ongoing."
TikTok insisted the platform does not allow any hateful behavior, hate speech, or promotion of hateful ideologies.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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