A teenager, aged 16, hailing from the Quebec City region, entered a plea of not guilty to a terrorism-related charge on Friday morning. The youth, who made an appearance in a Quebec City court, was apprehended by the RCMP in 2024. Allegedly, he utilized social media to advocate the violent ideology of a group identified as Atomwaffen Division, as per an announcement from the RCMP on Thursday.
Following a decision on Friday, the teenager was allowed to remain at liberty under specified court-imposed conditions, which include restrictions such as not possessing a cellphone with internet access or items exhibiting logos of terrorist groups. Due to being a minor, the identity of the accused cannot be disclosed legally, as stated by the RCMP’s Erique Gasse.
The individual in question is suspected of creating and circulating online content with the intention of motivating and enlisting others. Atomwaffen Division, established in the U.S. in 2013, is an international neo-Nazi organization. The Canadian government designated it as a terrorist entity in 2021. In 2022, approximately 60 RCMP officers conducted raids in the vicinity southwest of Quebec City, targeting individuals associated with the group.
The 16-year-old is scheduled to appear in court again in April.