Terrorist Designations of Nordic Resistance Movement and Three Leaders – United States Department of State

The United States is deeply concerned about the racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist (REMVE) threat worldwide and is committed to countering the transnational components of violent white supremacy.

Today, the Department of State is designating the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order (EO) 13224, as amended.

The NRM is Sweden’s largest neo-Nazi group, with branches also in Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland, where it has been banned since 2020. The NRM’s violent activity is based on its openly racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, anti-LGBTQI+ platform. The group’s members and leaders have carried out violent attacks against political opponents, protestors, journalists, and other perceived opponents. NRM members have also taken steps to collect and prepare weapons and explosive materials on behalf of the group and to further its goals. In addition, the NRM has organized training in violent tactics, including hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting.

Formed in 1997, the group was originally known as the Swedish Resistance Movement, but rebranded itself as the NRM in 2016 under its former leader Simon Lindberg. According to the NRM, the group’s goal is to replace the Nordic democracies with a “united ethnic Nordic nation.”

Additionally, the Department of State is designating three NRM leaders as SDGTs pursuant to EO 13224, as amended.

· Tor Frederik Wejdeland, also known as Frederik Wejdeland, is the leader of the NRM. Wejdeland is one of the longest-serving members of the NRM and has been part of the group’s national leadership for over 20 years. Wejdeland is the leader of the NRM’s National Council, the governing body of the group.

• Pär Öberg is a member of the NRM’s National Council and serves as head of the group’s parliamentary branch.
• Leif Robert Eklund, also known as Robert Eklund, is a member of the National Council of the NRM and coordinator of the various divisions of the NRM in Sweden.

As a result of our actions, all property and interests in property of those designated today that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction have been blocked, and U.S. persons (entities and individuals) are generally prohibited from transacting with them. Terrorist designations highlight and isolate entities and individuals and prevent them from exploiting the U.S. financial system. In addition, designations may assist law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other relevant enforcement entities and governments.

Today’s action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists, terrorist organizations, leaders and officials of terrorist groups, and those who provide support for terrorists or terrorist acts. These designations are part of a broader U.S. government effort to address the international dimensions of the threat posed by REMVE actors and reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to combating domestic terrorism (DT), including REMVE. In June 2021, the Administration released the first National Strategy for Combatting Domestic Terrorism. That strategy highlighted the U.S. government’s efforts to determine whether additional foreign entities associated with domestic terrorism could be designated, under relevant criteria, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, or SDGTs; such designations prohibit U.S. persons from supporting or receiving training from those entities.

The NRM is being designated for committing or attempting to commit terrorist acts, posing a significant risk of committing terrorist acts, or participating in training to commit terrorist acts that threaten the security of United States citizens or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Tor Frederik Wægdeland, Pär Øberg, and Leif Robert Eklund are being designated for being leaders of the NRM.

Petitioners requesting the removal of designated individuals from the Specially Designated Nationals and Banned Persons lists should go to the Department of State. Delisting guidance page,