New Zealand designates Proud Boys a terrorist organization

By NICK PERRY
Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government has declared American far-right groups the Proud Boys and The Base are terrorist organizations, making it illegal in New Zealand to fund, recruit or participate in them. New Zealand has become more attuned to far-right threats after a white supremacist shot and killed 51 Muslims at two mosques in 2019. That attack inspired others, including the killings of 10 Black people at a U.S. grocery store in May. New Zealand authorities cited the Proud Boys’ involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol building last year. They said The Base group aimed to train extremists to use violence and speed the fall of the U.S. government. The designation announced Thursday applies to 18 others including the Islamic State group.