preložiť ICJK and other investigators uncovered the story of the Zamocka shooter. For years he was shaped by an extremist network on the Telegram
The attack on Zámocká Street was not just the act of a "lone wolf", but the result of something much more dangerous. Investigative teams have uncovered hidden connections that show how radical ideologies are infiltrating the online space and shaping the minds of young people.
When Juraj Krajčík opened fire outside the LGBTQ+ bar Tepláreň in Bratislava in October 2022, the act was initially perceived as the isolated act of a lone gunman.
But new investigative findings reveal a much darker story - Krajčík was not just a frustrated young man acting on his own initiative, but the result of targeted radicalisation he underwent as part of the online neo-Nazi network Terrorgram.
How a teenager from Bratislava got into the extremist network
The actual involvement of the neo-Nazi group was known before, but the story of the radicalisation was only uncovered by the investigative teams of ProPublica, FRONTLINE and the Ján Kuciak Investigative Centre. It all started in 2019, when Krajcik was just 16 years old.
A detailed account of the shooter's story, the fate of his American associates, and snippets from the telegram chats are available on ProPublica. The editors of ta3 have selected only the most relevant information from the original text.
He joined chat groups on the Telegram platform where neo-Nazi ideologies, racial hatred and calls for terrorist attacks were promoted. At first he merely followed the discussions, but gradually became an active participant.
This community was led by several radical influencers who targeted young people, sought out those who felt frustrated, and gradually drew them into a world of white nationalism and terror.
In Krajcik's case, one of the main mentors was Pavol Beňadik, a 20-year-old Slovak at the time, who was one of the main administrators of the online network.
Benadik was known for his promotion of extremist acts. In chat groups, he regularly shared instructions for making explosives, recommendations for carrying out attacks, and glorified known terrorists. He encouraged Krajcik to "take action" and show the world that he was one of the "real fighters."
Step by step towards violence
After three years in this community, Krajcik was fully engulfed in the ideology of hate. In the fall of 2022, he began mapping out potential targets - among them were former Prime Minister Eduard Heger, the Jewish community, and LGBTQ+ businesses.
In September 2022, in one of the chats, he mentioned the bar Tepláreň, which he described as a place where "degenerates gather". After a discussion with other extremists, he decided to take action. On 11 October 2022, he published a series of posts on Twitter suggesting that he was going to have "surgery".
The next evening he went to the centre of Bratislava, where he spent about half an hour in front of the then Prime Minister's apartment. Finally, he went to Teplarna. There, he waited in the shadow of a nearby building until he approached a group of three people sitting outside the business and opened fire.
Terrorgram celebrated the killer
After the attack, Krajcik fled and hid on the outskirts of town. Shortly before taking his own life, he contacted a psychological help line.
Although Krajcik was dead, his actions took on a life of their own on the Telegram platform. Terrorgram immediately renamed him a "saint, " and his manifesto began to be shared among neo-Nazis around the world.
The investigation revealed that Krajcik was connected to at least 49 extremist channels on Telegram, which formed an interconnected network of radical nationalists. It was these groups that led him to believe for three years that violence was the only solution.
Arrests around the world
The Bratislava attack was followed by a series of arrests not only in Slovakia, but also in the US and Canada. Beňadik was charged with more than 200 terrorist offences and received a six-year prison sentence.
Two other prominent Terrorgram members - Matthew Allison of Idaho and Dallas Humber of California - were charged with inciting terrorism and disseminating extremist content.
Humber was one of the key members of the network and actively encouraged young men to "become warriors". Shortly after Krajcik's attack, she wrote in one of the chats that he had "done his duty" and that others should be inspired.
How much of the blame does Telegram share?
The Telegram platform has become the main communication channel for extremists who avoid strict regulation on other social networks.
Although the company has said it will tighten content moderation from 2023, experts warn that violent neo-Nazi groups are still moving to alternative platforms.
Following the events in Bratislava, pressure has increased on tech companies to better regulate content that can lead to radicalisation. But experts warn that without active intervention and wider cooperation from security forces, similar cases could increase in the future.
See how the victims of the terrorist attack on Zamocka Street were honoured in Trencin last year: