VICE reporter Ben Makuch delivering questions to Patrick MacDonald's home. Photo by Mack Lamoureux.
‘Let’s bring a new image of terror and dread to the 21st century’
The profile picture for an Instagram connected to Patrick MacDonald.
The Dark Foreigner Network
In one post on Deviant Art—one of MacDonald’s main art hubs until his blog on the site was deactivated in 2019—he laid out what he called the “Dark Foreigner Network,” posting links to a web of profiles on social media sites including Twitter, Gab, and Instagram, and a variety of multimedia projects he was trying to launch. He also claimed to have musical skills, promising his fans that on SoundCloud he would post songs that were as “raw and gritty as you’d imagine.” On a YouTube page he hyped up his channel by telling his fans, “Expect the terror image to be brought to video with my YouTube channel, DarkforeignerTV.” He linked out to the Atomwaffen’s website (called “siegeculture” at the time) explaining he’d been helping the group “spread out an image of terror through creating the SC graphics and helping with articles and other projects.”It was clear MacDonald viewed his online alter-ego as more than just a pseudonym. “This art project has gone from a simple past time to a full on obsession of mine, helping out groups, Atomwaffen, and many others,” he wrote. “This blog will have DAILY posts now, and nothing will stop the Dark Foreigner project. Stay posted for a whole new wave of killer content. Let’s bring a new image of terror and dread, to the 21st century. Hail Victory.”
A collage of art made by MacDonald of various figures including a Lord of the Rings character, a member of Atomwaffen, and Anders Breivik.
The other meme. Photo via iFunny.
Ethos and Helios
“Because you’re talking mostly about people that are not highly educated, usually images are an easier way to access information,” Raposo said. “It’s kind of something that even if you are not reading it, it’s always there. So you don’t need lots of effort to consume it.”Do you have information about extremist groups? We’d love to hear from you. You can contact Mack Lamoureux and Ben Makuch securely on Wire at @benmakuch and @mlamoureux, or by email at mack.lamoureux@vice.com or ben.makuch@vice.com
Left and bottom, the logo MacDonald said he created for a Ukrainian wine company. Right, a photo of a Sonnekreig Division member brandishing one of their flags. Photo via screenshot and Counter Terrorism Policing North East.
