The mother of a 14-year-old girl revealed that her daughter, who suffered from autism and mental health issues, was influenced by online racists and ended up carving a swastika into her head. Rhianan Rudd, a once cheerful schoolgirl from Nottinghamshire, fell prey to manipulation by individuals associated with online neo-Nazi forums. Christopher Cook, a US white supremacist, played a significant role in radicalizing Rhianan, leading her down a dangerous path that included extremist ideologies such as holocaust denial and anti-Semitism.
Despite her mother’s efforts to intervene, Rhianan’s vulnerability and the toxic influence of Cook resulted in distressing outcomes. The teenager, who met the white supremacist on Discord during the Covid-19 lockdown, succumbed to his harmful influence, which culminated in self-harm, threats of violence, and racial abuse towards others. Tragically, Rhianan’s mental health deteriorated further when she was placed in a children’s home, ultimately leading to her suicide at the age of 16 in May 2022.
Rhianan’s story took a dark turn as she became the youngest girl in the UK to face terrorism charges, including downloading a bomb manual and expressing violent intentions via WhatsApp messages. Despite the seriousness of the charges initially brought against her, they were later dropped. Her mother, Emily Carter, spoke out about the dangers of online radicalization, warning other parents about the insidious tactics used by far-right groups to target vulnerable young individuals like her daughter.
Emily highlighted the alarming trend of online grooming by extremists, emphasizing the need for awareness and vigilance among parents. She recounted how her daughter’s descent into neo-Nazism began innocently with a gaming interest but spiraled into a dangerous obsession after connecting with Cook online. Emily emphasized the importance of recognizing the signs of radicalization and the critical need to protect young people from falling victim to online predators.
If you require emotional support, you can contact the Samaritans helpline at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a local branch, or access their website.