Probe expanded into far-right link
A far-right extremist in Austria claims he is being investigated for allegedly forming a terrorist group with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter.
The investigation into far-right leader Martin Sellner has expanded, after it emerged the accused Australian terrorist donated $2500 to the Austrian before 51 Muslim worshippers were killed on March 15.
Sellner has published his account of the investigation on social media, including what he claims is an excerpt from a warrant showing it is suspected he participated in planning a terrorist organisation with the Australian.
The terror suspect appeared in the High Court at Christchurch on June 14 and pleaded not guilty to engaging in a terrorist act, as well as numerous charges of murder and attempted murder.
Sellner has been repeatedly raided by Austrian authorities since March 15.
He has repeatedly denied ongoing contact with the Christchurch terror suspect, though acknowledged an exchange of emails after receiving the $2500 (€1500) donation.
Sellner also appears to have been banned from entering the United Kingdom, first reported by the Guardian.
UK far-right group Generation Identity has published a letter addressed to Sellner from the Home Office, which says he is barred from the country for posing a ‘‘genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to the UK’s interests of preventing social harm, countering extremism and protecting shared values’’.
Sellner’s American fiance´e, Brittany Pettibone, said in a post on Twitter she was being investigated by Austrian authorities for contact with Australian far-right leader Blair Cottrell, and for receiving an email from an unnamed man asking for Sellner to give advice to Cottrell.
Sellner has been contacted for comment. Pettibone said, ‘‘My tweets are transparent – they clearly state the ridiculous reason why I’m being investigated’’, and declined to comment further.
New Zealand police were unwilling to comment on any involvement in the Austrian investigation.
In a statement police said an investigation team was making a large number of inquiries both in New Zealand and abroad, and it would not jeopardise any future prosecution by commenting further.
‘‘All of the detail will become part of the court proceedings,’’ the spokesperson said.
New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service said it would not comment on individual cases or operational matters.
Australian Federal Police said in a statement that the New South Wales joint counter-terrorism team was conducting an Australian investigation into the Christchurch attack to assist New Zealand police, but would not comment further.
The Embassy of Austria for New Zealand has not responded to a request for comment.
Sellner leads the Austrian branch of Generation Identity, a far-right nationalist movement with connections to the United Kingdom, France, Australia and New Zealand.
The groups are primarily motivated by identitarian politics and an ethnonationalist wish for fabled white states.
A New Zealand identitarian group, Dominion Movement, went underground in the hours after the March 15 shooting. A message posted on its website said it never ‘‘had any communication or association with the perpetrator’’.
The alleged Australian shooter also donated $3600 to the French Generation Identity group in 2017, German media outlet DW reported, and to Australian farright leader Blair Cottrell’s far-right United Patriot Front, according to ABC.