An individual from Ontario pleaded guilty in Toronto to three terrorism charges related to his involvement with an international neo-Nazi extremist group. Matthew Althorpe, aged 29 and hailing from the Niagara Region, admitted to aiding terrorist activities, directing others to engage in such activities, and committing offenses on behalf of a terrorist organization. He confessed to producing recruitment materials for Atomwaffen Division (AWD), a globally recognized neo-Nazi group that was designated as a terrorist entity by the Canadian government in 2021. Althorpe acknowledged his involvement in facilitating terrorist actions within Canada.
The incidents in question took place in Ontario and Quebec between 2018 and 2022, with Althorpe’s trial initially set to commence in January. According to the federal government’s website, Atomwaffen Division was established in the United States in 2013 and later expanded its operations to various countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany. The website does not confirm the current status of the group.
Following the group’s classification as a terrorist entity, several former members reportedly joined “Active Club Canada,” as per the announcement made by the RCMP when charges were laid against Althorpe in December 2023. The RCMP revealed that the Active Club network comprises decentralized cells of white supremacist and neo-Nazi organizations, operating not only in the U.S. but also in Canada and other countries.
Initially facing eight charges, Althorpe reached a plea agreement with the Crown on three of them. He was denied bail after his arrest and is presently detained at the Toronto South Detention Centre. Althorpe and his co-accused, Kristoffer Nippak, were apprehended in December 2023 following an 18-month RCMP investigation across central Quebec, eastern and northern Ontario, and the Niagara region. Nippak faces charges related to involvement in terrorist group activities and was granted bail, with a judge-alone trial scheduled for January.
During court proceedings, prosecutor Amber Pashuk presented evidence seized from Althorpe’s residence, including manifestos, videos, photos, and documents stored on hard drives. Pashuk highlighted that Althorpe was extensively involved in creating and disseminating propaganda materials for recruitment purposes. The prosecutor further emphasized that Atomwaffen Division promoted racist and violent ideologies targeting various ethnic and religious groups. Althorpe allegedly fueled hatred against minorities through online platforms like Terrorgram and the associated Terrorgram Collective.
The court was shown videos depicting Atomwaffen Division members engaging in symbolic acts, such as burning flags and undergoing weapons training. Additionally, photos of Active Club Canada activities, which involve combat training sessions in public parks, were presented. Althorpe’s defense counsel mentioned his client’s disassociation from his past actions before the court adjourned.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly has requested a psychiatric evaluation, with the next court date set for Nov. 5 to determine a sentencing hearing schedule. The Crown has indicated a desire for a 20-year prison term, while the defense has advocated for a maximum of 14 years, taking into account Althorpe’s pre-trial detention period.