A teenage girl’s mother revealed that her daughter, aged 14, etched a swastika into her scalp after being influenced by online extremists. Rhianan Rudd, a previously cheerful schoolgirl from Nottinghamshire, fell victim to grooming tactics by individuals on neo-Nazi online forums. One of these manipulators, US white supremacist Christopher Cook, who had been convicted for planning a terrorist attack on power grids, played a significant role in radicalizing the vulnerable teenager. The girl’s mother, Emily Carter, issued a cautionary message to parents about the targeting of young individuals by extremist far-right groups on the internet.
Rhianan, who struggled with autism and mental health challenges, found it nearly impossible to break free from the influence of the neo-Nazi indoctrination. The teenager was subjected to false theories promoting Holocaust denial, anti-Semitism, and racism by the white supremacist. Their initial contact occurred through the messaging app Discord during the pandemic lockdown, leading to a disturbing “relationship.” Despite Emily’s courageous efforts, Cook’s toxic influence drove Rhianan to carve a swastika on her head twice, express intentions of becoming a suicide bomber, and engage in racial harassment towards a black individual in public, as reported by the Daily Star.
The situation deteriorated for the teenager after she was placed in a children’s facility. Following a severe three-day mental health crisis, Rhianan tragically took her own life in May 2022 at the age of 16. She became the youngest girl in the UK to face terrorism-related charges, including downloading a bomb manual and sending WhatsApp messages detailing violent intentions towards individuals at school or Jewish places of worship, although these charges were later dropped.
In a candid interview with The Sun, Emily disclosed that her daughter was not the sole British teen targeted by dangerous extremists online. Expressing her disgust at the prevalence of such actions, she highlighted the vulnerability of quiet, nerdy children spending significant time online, who are particularly susceptible to manipulation by adult extremists seeking to brainwash them.
The mother recounted how her daughter’s descent into neo-Nazism originated from an innocent interest in a German character in the game Fortnite. Rhianan’s aspirations of starting a café in Germany took a dark turn when she connected with Cook online, leading to a spiral of radicalization.
Emily emphasized, “Her fixation grew deeper and deeper until it was no longer just a fixation; she was being groomed.”
For those in need of emotional support, the Samaritans offer a 24-hour helpline at 116 123, an email contact at jo@samaritans.org, in-person visits to their branches, or access to their website for assistance.