Two teenagers who murdered three people in an attack on an Islamic centre in San Diego earlier this week named Brenton Tarrant, the Australian perpetrator of the Christchurch massacre in which 51 people were killed, as direct inspiration.
Investigators claim Caleb Vasquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17 met online prior to carrying out the attack.
The two shooters, who later died of self-inflicted injuries, were motivated by a “broad hatred” for others and white supremacist ideology, according to United States authorities.
Three people were murdered at the Islamic Center in the Clairemont community of San Diego, California, earlier this week. (Reuters: American Broadcasting Company Affiliate KGTV)
In a lengthy manifesto attributed to the shooters that has been obtained by ABC NEWS Verify, the killers described themselves as the “sons” of the Christchurch shooter and named him as “our biggest inspiration”.
Neo-Nazi symbols seen in video
The two killers appear to have live-streamed their attack, with video emerging online that shows two individuals wearing military uniforms adorned with white supremacist symbols and firing rifles decorated with Neo-Nazi symbols.
Behind the mask and runes of Neo-Nazis
Similarly decorated weapons and gear were used by the Christchurch murderer in his own live-streamed attack in 2019.
The symbols include the sonnenrad or “black sun”, a neo-Nazi Nazi symbol, which was affixed to the bulletproof vest worn by the Christchurch murderer and visible on the clothes of the San Diego killers.
ABC NEWS Verify has viewed a copy of the video, which matches descriptions previously reported by the New York Times.
Geolocation analysis confirms parts of it were filmed at the Islamic Centre of San Diego where the killings took place.
People embracing near the scene of a shooting. (AP: Gregory Bull)
‘Internationalisation’ of white terrorism
The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism has described the Christchurch killer, who also left behind an extensive online manifesto, as an “inspiration” for successive far-right terrorist manifestos.
There was a public outcry after the mass killings of 49 worshippers attending the Masjid al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito)
A 2020 report by the ICCT described how the Christchurch shooter’s killings, which were live-streamed and accompanied by a manifesto highlight the increasing internationalisation of far-right extremism.
It warned that although manifestos can provide some clues into how individuals are radicalised, detailing their content risks fuelling further hate and violence, in part because they are often written with the aim of maximising sharing on social media.
“By not only committing attacks but publishing manifestos to be shared and celebrated by the extremist masses, terrorists are issuing a call-to-arms for the next generation to rise up and join the fight,” the report said.
Neo-Nazi James Mason cited as inspiration
The manifesto attributed to the San Diego killers reflects a strong adherence to white supremacist ideas.
This includes naming notorious US Neo-Nazi James Mason, who is listed as a “terroristic entity” in Canada, as another source of inspiration.
Australia’s Neo-Nazis are still organising
Mason featured in a vodcast with Australian Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell in March this year.
During the vodcast Sewell relayed his political aspirations and disclosed his intent to launch a High Court challenge against Australia’s hate speech laws.
He has also implied that failure in the High Court would not put an end to his white supremacist ambitions.
“They’re going to have to kill me … I’m not going to stop,” he said.
