Violent extremist movements continue to evolve, adapting their methods of recruitment and communication to exploit social divisions and encourage acts of terrorism. While much public attention in recent years has rightly focused on Islamist-inspired terrorism, it is equally important to recognise that violent extreme right-wing organisations remain a persistent and serious threat to public safety and community cohesion.
One such organisation is The Base, an international neo-Nazi accelerationist network that has attracted the attention of counter-terrorism agencies across Europe and North America. Although its membership remains relatively small, its ideology promotes violence, racial hatred and the deliberate destabilisation of democratic societies. For British Muslims, Jewish communities and many other minority groups, understanding organisations such as The Base is essential in recognising how extremist narratives continue to evolve. The sad reality is that this organisation may have impacts on young minds here in the United Kingdom in the future.
What is The Base?
The Base is a transnational white supremacist and neo-Nazi organisation founded in 2018. Its name is believed to be a direct translation of the Arabic word al-Qaeda (“the base”), reflecting its aspiration to build an international extremist movement that mirrors the decentralised structure adopted by some jihadist organisations.
Unlike traditional far-right political groups that seek influence through elections or public campaigning, The Base openly embraces the concept of accelerationism. This ideology argues that society should be pushed towards instability and conflict through acts of violence, intimidation and terrorism, ultimately leading to the collapse of democratic government and the establishment of a white ethno-state. Given the political polarisation that we are seeing in the United Kingdom, there is a chance that this organisation could attract young minds to its nihilism.
Its ideology combines elements of neo-Nazism, racial supremacy, antisemitism and anti-government extremism. Members have been linked to paramilitary training, weapons offences and plots to target infrastructure and minority communities. As a result, the organisation has been designated as a terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom and several other countries.
Why does this matter to us?
We all know that the United Kingdom is experiencing a changing threat landscape in recent years. Counter-terrorism policing has repeatedly highlighted that extreme right-wing terrorism now represents a significant proportion of domestic terrorism investigations.
Although organisations rise and fall, the underlying ideologies often survive. Online platforms enable extremist groups to share propaganda, recruit vulnerable individuals and create transnational networks that transcend national borders. Young people are being exposed to violent material through gaming platforms, encrypted messaging applications and social media algorithms that increasingly recommend increasingly extreme content.
For organisations such as The Base, physical membership is often less important than ideological influence. Individuals who consume and internalise violent propaganda may never formally join an organisation yet still commit acts of violence inspired by its worldview. There is therefore a very real chance that we will see cases of people disseminating material from ‘the Base’ in the United Kingdom.
British Muslims remain a primary target
For British Muslims, organisations such as The Base represent more than an abstract security concern. Their ideology explicitly portrays Muslims as enemies who threaten the racial and cultural identity of Western societies. These narratives often recycle longstanding conspiracy theories surrounding immigration, demographic change and so-called “replacement” myths that have inspired numerous acts of terrorist violence internationally.
Tell MAMA has consistently documented how periods of heightened political tension, international conflict or inflammatory public discourse can coincide with increases in anti-Muslim hatred. While most prejudice never develops into terrorism, violent extremist organisations actively seek to exploit existing social divisions by encouraging supporters to move beyond hateful rhetoric into acts of intimidation or violence.
Muslim women, particularly those who wear visible Islamic dress, continue to experience disproportionately high levels of anti-Muslim abuse. Mosques, Islamic schools and community centres also remain symbolic targets for those seeking to intimidate entire communities.
The online environment
The internet has fundamentally transformed how extremist movements operate. The Base and similar organisations have relied heavily upon encrypted communications, decentralised online communities and digital propaganda. Rather than maintaining large formal memberships, they encourage loosely connected supporters to consume ideological material, develop operational security and prepare independently for future violence.
Tell MAMA has long argued that tackling online hatred cannot simply focus on removing illegal content. It must also include education, digital resilience and early intervention to prevent vulnerable individuals from becoming immersed in extremist ecosystems.
Avoiding unnecessary fear
It is important to maintain perspective. The overwhelming majority of people exposed to extremist propaganda never become involved in terrorism. Likewise, violent organisations such as The Base remain relatively small compared with wider society.
However, history demonstrates that even small extremist networks can have devastating consequences when individuals become radicalised towards violence. Maintaining awareness should therefore not create panic but encourage vigilance, informed discussion and confidence in reporting concerning behaviour through appropriate channels.
Tell MAMA continues to monitor incidents of anti-Muslim hatred across England and works closely with victims, statutory agencies and community organisations.
At Tell MAMA, we remain committed to documenting anti-Muslim hate, supporting victims and promoting evidence-based responses that strengthen community cohesion. Extremist organisations flourish where fear and division take hold. They are weakened when communities stand together, reject hatred and continue to uphold the values of democracy, mutual respect and equal citizenship.
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