Latvian State Police and State Security Service detained a violent skinhead group in Riga, including minors, seized weapons and Nazi/extremist materials, and opened criminal cases for illegal weapons, explosives, and glorification of war crimes and Nazi ideology.

Terrorism & Criminal Proxy TacticsTerrorismBomb threats, assassination plots, targeted killings

Aggressor

Summary

Latvian State Police report that on 26 October (year not visible, page footer suggests 2023–2024) a skinhead group was detained in Riga in cooperation with the State Security Service. Several individuals were detained on suspicion of violent crimes. The group is described as violent, and minors (under 14) were among its participants. Searches were carried out at more than ten addresses in Riga, resulting in the seizure of weapons, ammunition, Nazi and extremist symbols, propaganda materials, tactical gear, stabbing weapons, masks, helmets, chains, mobile phones, computers and data carriers. The police state that the group regularly prepared and posted content of violent character on social networks, including images in Nazi uniforms and symbols, extremist inscriptions, and depictions suggestive of beating or killing minorities and other targeted groups. Items shown in photos include: a revolver-type handgun, a large knife, knuckledusters, a chain, a white hockey-style mask, clothing and patches with skull and crossbones and the text "Fighting 84", high black lace-up boots, a patch/logo featuring a skull-headed figure in Nazi-style uniform with a rifle and the text "Red Valkyrie Crew", improvised firearms or firearm components, and additional extremist patches. The criminal process was initiated under Section 76 (crimes against humanity and peace, justification of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, war crimes) and Section 76.1 (acquisition and storage of materials glorifying or justifying war crimes, genocide and other crimes) of the Latvian Criminal Law, as well as Section 259 (illegal circulation of explosives and explosive devices and illegal manufacture of explosive devices) and Section 233 (illegal handling of firearms, essential components thereof, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices). According to the article, part of the group’s activity was the dissemination of materials glorifying war crimes and Nazi ideology. The police emphasise that these activities can pose a serious threat to public security, especially given the involvement of minors, and ask the public to report any information related to such extremist groups. The article headline: "Rīgā aizturēta skinhedu grupa, kuras dalībnieku vidū arī mazgadīgas personas" (Skinhead group detained in Riga, among whose members are also minors). It is published on the Latvian State Police official website (vp.gov.lv) under the "Aktualitātes" (News) section. The visible publication date under the headline is "Publicēts 26.11.2023". The page includes standard footer information such as contact number +371 67075083, address Čiekurkalna 1. līnija 1, k-4, Rīga, and general navigation links, but no named author. There are small preview images showing seized items with no clearly readable captions. The article notes that the investigation is ongoing, that information is being shared with other competent services, and that, due to the involvement of minors, the police are cooperating with child protection institutions and psychological services. The text stresses that the spread of Nazi ideology and related violent content on social networks is unacceptable and punishable under Latvian law.

Classification

Confidence: Medium

The article covers a domestic extremist skinhead group in Latvia that disseminated Nazi propaganda, glorified war crimes, and possessed weapons and explosives. This fits Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics within a hybrid-warfare lens because such violent extremist cells can be exploited as proxies, but the source does not indicate direct foreign state control, so confidence is medium.

Source URL

https://vp.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/riga-aiztureta-skinhedu-grupa-kuras-dalibnieku-vidu-ari-mazgadigas-personas

Open source

Provenance

Publisher: extension
Submitted: Nov 11, 2026, 16:53 UTC
Last updated: Nov 11, 2026, 17:43 UTC
Event time: Oct 26, 2023, 00:00 UTC

Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.

Raw record

{
  "id": "c2acfa8d-d787-44ec-9801-182bb0a230d9",
  "url": "https://vp.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/riga-aiztureta-skinhedu-grupa-kuras-dalibnieku-vidu-ari-mazgadigas-personas",
  "source": "extension",
  "status": "processed",
  "category": "Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics",
  "subcategory": "Terrorism",
  "incident_type": "Bomb threats, assassination plots, targeted killings",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "source_reliability": "A",
  "info_credibility": "1",
  "tags": [
    "Latvia",
    "Riga",
    "skinhead group",
    "far-right extremism",
    "Nazi symbols",
    "minors involved",
    "illegal weapons",
    "explosives",
    "online propaganda",
    "violent extremism",
    "law enforcement",
    "State Police",
    "State Security Service"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": null,
  "description": "Latvian State Police report that on 26 October (year not visible, page footer suggests 2023–2024) a skinhead group was detained in Riga in cooperation with the State Security Service. Several individuals were detained on suspicion of violent crimes. The group is described as violent, and minors (under 14) were among its participants. Searches were carried out at more than ten addresses in Riga, resulting in the seizure of weapons, ammunition, Nazi and extremist symbols, propaganda materials, tactical gear, stabbing weapons, masks, helmets, chains, mobile phones, computers and data carriers. The police state that the group regularly prepared and posted content of violent character on social networks, including images in Nazi uniforms and symbols, extremist inscriptions, and depictions suggestive of beating or killing minorities and other targeted groups. Items shown in photos include: a revolver-type handgun, a large knife, knuckledusters, a chain, a white hockey-style mask, clothing and patches with skull and crossbones and the text \"Fighting 84\", high black lace-up boots, a patch/logo featuring a skull-headed figure in Nazi-style uniform with a rifle and the text \"Red Valkyrie Crew\", improvised firearms or firearm components, and additional extremist patches. The criminal process was initiated under Section 76 (crimes against humanity and peace, justification of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, war crimes) and Section 76.1 (acquisition and storage of materials glorifying or justifying war crimes, genocide and other crimes) of the Latvian Criminal Law, as well as Section 259 (illegal circulation of explosives and explosive devices and illegal manufacture of explosive devices) and Section 233 (illegal handling of firearms, essential components thereof, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices). According to the article, part of the group’s activity was the dissemination of materials glorifying war crimes and Nazi ideology. The police emphasise that these activities can pose a serious threat to public security, especially given the involvement of minors, and ask the public to report any information related to such extremist groups. The article headline: \"Rīgā aizturēta skinhedu grupa, kuras dalībnieku vidū arī mazgadīgas personas\" (Skinhead group detained in Riga, among whose members are also minors). It is published on the Latvian State Police official website (vp.gov.lv) under the \"Aktualitātes\" (News) section. The visible publication date under the headline is \"Publicēts 26.11.2023\". The page includes standard footer information such as contact number +371 67075083, address Čiekurkalna 1. līnija 1, k-4, Rīga, and general navigation links, but no named author. There are small preview images showing seized items with no clearly readable captions. The article notes that the investigation is ongoing, that information is being shared with other competent services, and that, due to the involvement of minors, the police are cooperating with child protection institutions and psychological services. The text stresses that the spread of Nazi ideology and related violent content on social networks is unacceptable and punishable under Latvian law.",
  "summary_short": "Latvian State Police and State Security Service detained a violent skinhead group in Riga, including minors, seized weapons and Nazi/extremist materials, and opened criminal cases for illegal weapons, explosives, and glorification of war crimes and Nazi ideology.",
  "summary_extended": null,
  "actor_primary": "skinhead group (unnamed)",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": "Riga",
  "location_region": null,
  "location_coordinates_lat": 56.879635,
  "location_coordinates_lon": 24.603189,
  "location_precision": "Regional",
  "is_aggressor_signal": true,
  "signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
  "is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
  "classification_complete": true,
  "hybrid_signal_complete": true,
  "classification_confidence": "Medium",
  "classification_rationale": "The article covers a domestic extremist skinhead group in Latvia that disseminated Nazi propaganda, glorified war crimes, and possessed weapons and explosives. This fits Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics within a hybrid-warfare lens because such violent extremist cells can be exploited as proxies, but the source does not indicate direct foreign state control, so confidence is medium.",
  "event_time_utc": "2023-10-26T00:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
  "created_at": "2026-11-11T16:53:00.571Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-11T17:43:20.303Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "regional",
  "time_precision_band": "within_24h",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "single_source"
}

Public assessmentReliability: StrongSeverity: ModerateAttribution: HighSingle sourceTime: Same dayLocation: Regional

Source reliability

Info credibility

Event time

Oct 26, 2023, 00:00 UTC

Event time confidence

pm24h

Location

Riga

Primary actor

skinhead group (unnamed)

Country

Latvia

Tags

Latvia, Riga, skinhead group, far-right extremism, Nazi symbols, minors involved, illegal weapons, explosives, online propaganda, violent extremism, law enforcement, State Police, State Security Service

Loading signal...

{ "id": "c2acfa8d-d787-44ec-9801-182bb0a230d9", "url": "https://vp.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/riga-aiztureta-skinhedu-grupa-kuras-dalibnieku-vidu-ari-mazgadigas-personas", "source": "extension", "status": "processed", "category": "Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics", "subcategory": "Terrorism", "incident_type": "Bomb threats, assassination plots, targeted killings", "country": "Latvia", "source_reliability": "A", "info_credibility": "1", "tags": [ "Latvia", "Riga", "skinhead group", "far-right extremism", "Nazi symbols", "minors involved", "illegal weapons", "explosives", "online propaganda", "violent extremism", "law enforcement", "State Police", "State Security Service" ], "nodes": [], "countries": [], "where_text": "Land", "headline": null, "description": "Latvian State Police report that on 26 October (year not visible, page footer suggests 2023–2024) a skinhead group was detained in Riga in cooperation with the State Security Service. Several individuals were detained on suspicion of violent crimes. The group is described as violent, and minors (under 14) were among its participants. Searches were carried out at more than ten addresses in Riga, resulting in the seizure of weapons, ammunition, Nazi and extremist symbols, propaganda materials, tactical gear, stabbing weapons, masks, helmets, chains, mobile phones, computers and data carriers. The police state that the group regularly prepared and posted content of violent character on social networks, including images in Nazi uniforms and symbols, extremist inscriptions, and depictions suggestive of beating or killing minorities and other targeted groups. Items shown in photos include: a revolver-type handgun, a large knife, knuckledusters, a chain, a white hockey-style mask, clothing and patches with skull and crossbones and the text \"Fighting 84\", high black lace-up boots, a patch/logo featuring a skull-headed figure in Nazi-style uniform with a rifle and the text \"Red Valkyrie Crew\", improvised firearms or firearm components, and additional extremist patches. The criminal process was initiated under Section 76 (crimes against humanity and peace, justification of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, war crimes) and Section 76.1 (acquisition and storage of materials glorifying or justifying war crimes, genocide and other crimes) of the Latvian Criminal Law, as well as Section 259 (illegal circulation of explosives and explosive devices and illegal manufacture of explosive devices) and Section 233 (illegal handling of firearms, essential components thereof, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices). According to the article, part of the group’s activity was the dissemination of materials glorifying war crimes and Nazi ideology. The police emphasise that these activities can pose a serious threat to public security, especially given the involvement of minors, and ask the public to report any information related to such extremist groups. The article headline: \"Rīgā aizturēta skinhedu grupa, kuras dalībnieku vidū arī mazgadīgas personas\" (Skinhead group detained in Riga, among whose members are also minors). It is published on the Latvian State Police official website (vp.gov.lv) under the \"Aktualitātes\" (News) section. The visible publication date under the headline is \"Publicēts 26.11.2023\". The page includes standard footer information such as contact number +371 67075083, address Čiekurkalna 1. līnija 1, k-4, Rīga, and general navigation links, but no named author. There are small preview images showing seized items with no clearly readable captions. The article notes that the investigation is ongoing, that information is being shared with other competent services, and that, due to the involvement of minors, the police are cooperating with child protection institutions and psychological services. The text stresses that the spread of Nazi ideology and related violent content on social networks is unacceptable and punishable under Latvian law.", "summary_short": "Latvian State Police and State Security Service detained a violent skinhead group in Riga, including minors, seized weapons and Nazi/extremist materials, and opened criminal cases for illegal weapons, explosives, and glorification of war crimes and Nazi ideology.", "summary_extended": null, "actor_primary": "skinhead group (unnamed)", "target_primary": null, "location_text": "Riga", "location_region": null, "location_coordinates_lat": 56.879635, "location_coordinates_lon": 24.603189, "location_precision": "Regional", "is_aggressor_signal": true, "signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL", "is_hybrid_war_signal": true, "classification_complete": true, "hybrid_signal_complete": true, "classification_confidence": "Medium", "classification_rationale": "The article covers a domestic extremist skinhead group in Latvia that disseminated Nazi propaganda, glorified war crimes, and possessed weapons and explosives. 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