Wajahat AliVerified account

Thread: I've read the El Paso shooter's alleged manifesto. Police are validating it but say it indicates a nexus to a potential hate crime. I'd say say domestic terrorism. If valid, it shows the radicalization of a man who feels the American dream is stolen by immigrants. 1/

People who become radicalized are often angry, lonely individuals feeling displaced from society. They find a community & ideology online that gives them purpose & belonging. They feel they can be the heroes of this zero-sum war. Violence is necessary for self preservation. 2/

This El Paso shooter justifies his violence as an "act of preservation." These terrorists believe they are heroes saving white identity, culture & civilization. He cites the slaughter of Native Americans by Europeans as a warning to fellow whites. POC are the new invaders. 3/

The El Paso shooter is willing to fight & die to "reclaim" his country from destruction. He says this is a fight for America & Europe. He welcomes the war which he believes has already begun. None of this is new. It’s the same patterns we keep seeing here & in Europe. 4/

He's inspired by the manifesto of the Christchurch terrorist, who killed 51 Muslims. He wrote about the "Great Replacement," or "White Genocide," the main fear & conspiracy of white supremacists that says Jews are bringing in immigrants to weaken & destroy white civilization. 5/

The Christchurch terrorist was inspired by Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who wanted to punish Europe for embracing immigrants, Muslims and multuculturalism. He left behind a 1500 page manifesto, which has inspired several copy cat terrorists in the past 8 years. 6/

The El Paso shooter said the Hispanic community became his target AFTER reading the Christchurch terrorist's manifesto. He cite usual white supremacist fears of "cultural & ethnic replacement brought on by invasion." This language is used by Trump, Fox News, right wing media. 7/