How European ideology influenced the Christchurch killings

 

Politico takes a look at how the Christchurch attacks, even though they happened on the other side of the world, were inspired by ideas that have filtered into right-wing discourse across the European Union.

The links were on display in that the white supremacist, who called himself Brendon Tarrant on Twitter, posted to Brendon Tarrant, who has been charged with the killings, posted on-line

Politico refers to a 73-page manifesto Brendon Tarrant posted on-line to explain why he went on to kill 49 Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand. A document full of references to European events, figures and ideas — starting with its title “The Great Replacement” .

A title drawn from a thesis published in 2011 by French right-wing intellectual Renaud Camus. Tarrant was also affected by the French election outcome, with what he called Le Pen’s defeat by the “anti-white” politician Emmanuel Macron.

According to his manifesto, the killer spent time in France in 2017, an election year during which hardline anti-immigration language was rampant on airwaves as well as the online communities in which he participated. The experience in France, and his exposure to “rumours” he’d read about Muslims, hardened his resolve to carry out the killings.

It’s not clear how closely Tarrant followed the French election campaign, if at all. French authorities have yet to confirm his presence there.

The document also includes admiring references to British fascist Oswald Mosley, his worship of Norwegian mass-killer Anders Breivik and his description of himself as a “fascist” all point to an ideology that was forged in a European crucible, and an attack that responded to perceived circumstances in Europe.

 

Via Politico