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Army investigating members allegedly involved in ‘abhorrent’ Facebook group, Canada’s top soldier says

The Canadian Army is currently investigating members who have allegedly shared disturbing content within a private Facebook group known as the “Blue Hackle Mafia.” The group’s content, as described by Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright, contained racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and antisemitic comments and images, which he deemed as “abhorrent.”

In a message addressed to armed forces members, Wright expressed his disgust over the content shared in the group and emphasized that there would be consequences for those involved. He ordered all serving Canadian Army members participating in the group to cease their involvement immediately.

Reports of the group’s content were escalated up the chain of command, with Wright becoming aware of the misconduct on June 25. The military police in Ottawa initially investigated the complaints about the private Facebook group before transferring the case to the unit for a disciplinary investigation to determine if any serious offenses had been committed.

The Office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal confirmed that a new investigation was initiated on June 27 by the military police. However, no further details were provided at this time to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

The Blue Hackle Mafia group remains shrouded in mystery, with little information available about the extent of participation by CAF members. The term “hackle” in the group’s name could potentially reference the plume worn by some infantry regiments.

The Canadian Armed Forces have faced criticism in recent years for their handling of extremist views within their ranks. Reports have highlighted a rise in the number of members belonging to extremist groups and the challenges faced by the Department of National Defence in identifying and addressing these individuals.

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Efforts to address extremism within the military have been urged by various reports, including a 2022 advisory panel report on systemic racism and discrimination. The report highlighted the need for better detection of extremist groups and individuals within the Canadian Armed Forces.

In a separate report from the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, white nationalism was identified as an active threat to the Canadian Armed Forces. The report emphasized the recruitment efforts of white supremacist groups targeting individuals with military training and experience.

Instances of individuals with extremist views serving in the military have raised concerns, such as the case of Erik Myggland, a reservist with ties to far-right groups, and former army reservist Patrik Mathews, who was sentenced to prison for his involvement in a neo-Nazi plot.

The Canadian Army’s investigation into the Blue Hackle Mafia group underscores the ongoing efforts to address extremism within the military and uphold the values of inclusivity and respect for all members.

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