Three men linked to a violent white supremacist group known as The Base have been charged with conspiring to kill members of a militant anti-fascist group, police in North Georgia announced Friday.
Luke Austin Lane, 22, of Floyd County; 25-year-old Michael Helterbrand of Dalton; and 19-year-old Jacob Kaderli of Dacula are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a criminal street gang. Authorities said the men planned to kill a married couple who were anti-fascist protesters – part of the Antifa movement – and believed killing the couple would send a message to enemies of The Base.
The Base, a collective of hardcore neo-Nazis that operates as a paramilitary organization, has proclaimed war against minority communities within the United States and abroad, the FBI has said. Unlike other extremist groups, it’s not focused on promulgating propaganda. Instead, the group aims to bring together highly skilled members to train them for acts of violence.
Its organizers recruit fellow white supremacists online – particularly seeking out veterans because of their military training – use encrypted chat rooms and train members in military-style camps in the woods, according to experts who track extremist groups.
The group, which has the motto “learn, train, fight,” brings together white supremacists with varying ideologies.