Charges against alleged Ottawa neo-Nazi linked to offences in 2018-19, court documents allege

The unprecedented terrorismcharges laid against anOttawa man stem from offences he's accused of committingbetween 2018 and 2019, court documents say.

The Mounties saidearlier this weekthey arrested Patrick Gordon Macdonald, a 26-year-old graphic designer, and charged him with three terrorism-related offences under the Criminal Code:participating in the activity of a terrorist group, facilitating terrorist activity and commission of an offence for a terrorist group (wilful promotion of hatred).

The RCMP says it's the first time in Canada someoneadvocating a violent far-right ideology has been charged with both terrorism and hate propaganda. Macdonald is accused of creating propaganda for the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, which the federal government listed as a terrorist entity in 2021.

"He allegedly participated in and facilitated the creation, production and distribution of three terrorist propaganda videos," the RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

Court documents obtained by CBC News allegeMacdonald committed the offences between, on or about April 1, 2018 and Dec.31, 2019. Macdonald enteredthe public eye after a 2021 Vice article identified him as "Dark Foreigner," a prominent far-right onlinefigure who madevisual propagandafor Atomwaffen Division.

Macdonald appeared in an Ottawa court for a second time Friday morning. His next court appearance is set for July 12.

The RCMP arrested a second, unnamed individual from Kingsey Falls, Que., as part of theirinvestigation but have not charged them. An RCMP spokespersontold CBC News on Friday the individual has been released from custodybut that charges may come later.