On Telegram, Accelerationist Group Claims Responsibility For Calling In Bomb Threats To Synagogues, Black Churches, LGBTQ+ Bar, Vows To Continue 'Swatting' Activities; Posts Livestreams Of Religious Services Online As They Call In Threats

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September 13, 2023

An accelerationist organization regularly calls in bomb threats to various institutions including synagogues, Jewish schools, black churches, and an LGBTQ+ bar. After conducting a successful "swat" on a venue, the channel typically shares video footage of the building in question being evacuated, presumably taken from online streams, and sometimes, a 911 call recording of the threat being made.

The following report briefly outlines the group's activities.

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Exploiting 988 Suicide Hotline To Issue Threats

The group appears to use the 988 suicide hotline to phone in their bomb threats, as evidenced by an August 20, 2023 post including screenshots of a conversation between a member and a 988 counselor. The group member wrote: "I think I'm actually going to kill myself soon [...] I just feel like killing everyone here [...]" the counselor requested details on location, to which the member responded: "It's a synagogue I think I'm not sure."

Bomb Threats On Synagogues, Jewish School

In September 2023, the channel shared several posts boasting about its recent "swatting" campaigns on synagogues and on a Jewish school. One post includes a link to a Jerusalem Post article titled "2 more synagogues evacuated due to bomb threats ahead of High Holidays."

Another post has a link to a Forward article titled "How to protect your synagogue from swatting and bomb threats." The channel added, "THEY DID A GUIDE ON HOW TO STOP CHADS FROM SWATTING YOUR SYNAGOGUES. HAHAHA. WE ARE SCARING THEM SHITLESS."

Several weeks earlier the channel had claimed responsibility for a "swatting" campaign on the Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The channel posted a video of a female rabbi engaged in prayer, who then abruptly ends her service after being informed of the bomb threat issued. The channel boasted that "this was the first swat that got the adls [Anti-Defamation League's] attention."

Bomb Threats On Black Churches, Funerals

Black churches are a frequent target of the group; the group has also placed a threat to at least one black funeral. In August 2023, the channel shared a video of a female black pastor delivering a sermon in a church. Near the end of the clip, a man beside her informs that the congregation must evacuate the building. The channel wrote: "I DID ANOTHER N**GER CHURCH."

Hints At More Threats Over Upcoming Jewish Holidays

On September 12, 2023, the group posted on its channel a screenshot listing the dates of several upcoming Jewish holidays. This indicates a strong likelihood that the group will continue to issue bomb threats over the holiday season.

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