The group wanted an escalation of violence on the streets. “The previous leadership and the current one are in prison; let’s wait for the next one, if one exists”, guarantees the judge.
Elements of the ultranationalist group 1143, last Tuesday by the PJ, discussed plans to kidnap journalists who published negative news about the movement and also to kidnapping people of gypsy ethnicityfilming them being beaten, with the aim of intimidating the minority.
The news comes from this Sunday, which collected information from the investigation that led to the mega-operation that this week saw 37 detainees and 15 defendants, five of whom are in pre-trial detention — the rest were released with coercive measures, including a ban on contacts and periodic presentations. These include crimes such as incitement to hatred and violence, aggravated threats and coercion, attacks on qualified physical integrity and possession of a prohibited weapon.
The group, which also produced videos and banners insulting the Muslim religion — including the inscription “Mohammed was a pedophile” — sought to provoke reactions and foment confrontations.
According to telephone taps analyzed by the authorities, the main members of 1143 reacted with particular hostility whenever news unfavorable to the movement was published. In one of the intercepted conversations, the intention to kidnap journalists considered “nuisances”.
In another phone call cited by the morning newspaper, a member of the group suggests the kidnapping of one or two people of gypsy ethnicity, who would be taken to an isolated location and attacked, with the attack being filmed. The objective, according to the content of the conversations, would be to spread fear and intimidate the community.
The investigation also points to the preparation of offensive content and symbols aimed at the Muslim religion. The strategy would involve provoking inflamed reactions and, from there, triggering confrontations and retaliations: they would want an escalation of violence in the streets.
Operation Brotherhood, led by the National Counterterrorism Unit, advanced before any such plan came to fruition. On Tuesday, around 300 inspectors participated in the action that led to the arrest of 37 suspects, including — including two former mayoral candidates — a police officer and an Air Force soldier.
According to the investigation, the famous ‘skinhead’ Mario Machado whose presence in court this Saturday, would maintain leadership of the group from the Alcoentre Prison, where he is being held.
The judge did not forgive Group 1143: “The previous leadership and the current one are in prison; let us wait for the next one, if it comes into existence”, he exclaimed, quoted by .
