Members of the far-right Active Club France at the “Suomi herää” demonstration in front of the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki on Independence Day, 6 December 2023. Photo: Jecaterina Mantsinen / Lehtikuva
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A far-right network with origins in the United States has established a presence in several regions of Finland, operating through local groups that promote nationalist ideology under the cover of combat sports and street activism.
The group, known as Active Club, began operating in Finland in 2023. It now maintains at least eight Telegram channels corresponding to local chapters in Turku, Tampere, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Kokkola, Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme and Satakunta.
The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) confirmed that it has monitored the organisation since 2022. Supo has assessed the movement as extremist but said it does not currently pose a terrorist threat.
Anna Santaholma from Supo told STT, “We see threats in how combat training could enhance the group’s capacity to act against ideological opponents, particularly during demonstrations.”
The network recruits primarily through physical training sessions, which are documented in videos and photos shared on social media. These include wrestling and boxing practices, group exercises, and images of members in black clothing, some wearing balaclavas.
Screenshot from a Club 8 network Telegram post from October 2025. The image shows fight training, with a Nazi symbol, the wolfsangel, on a flag. Photo: Lehtikuva
The material also shows actions that include removing rainbow flags from public areas and distributing stickers promoting white supremacy.
Telegram activity indicates that the most active groups are based in Tampere and Turku. The channels advertise joint training sessions, ideological gatherings, and participation in far-right demonstrations such as the “Suomi herää” protest on Independence Day.
The movement also maintains ties with the Sinimusta Liike (SML), a far-right political group that recently re-entered the party register and includes former members of the banned Nordic Resistance Movement.
Katri-Maaria Kyllönen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, said the strategy used by Active Club aligns with a concept referred to as “nationalism 3.0.”
“The aim is to embed far-right values into society through aesthetics, fitness, and activism, bypassing overt political messaging,” she told STT.
Kyllönen estimated that around 50 individuals are involved in the Active Club network and its affiliate, Club 8, based on analysis of online activity. Club 8 describes itself as a rebranding of the skinhead subculture and shares combat training and street activity content. One of its visual symbols includes the wolfsangel, which has Nazi associations.
Supo said that Club 8 does not distribute hate speech in the same way but still engages in activities aligned with far-right extremism.
Both groups appear to recruit primarily through shared training environments. These events are described by Supo as a low-barrier entry point into extremist movements.
“While the activities involve physical self-improvement, they also serve to prepare participants for possible violent action in defence of the so-called white race,” Santaholma said.
Santaholma also confirmed that Finnish members of Active Club have maintained international contacts, including links with far-right groups in Estonia and individuals connected to Ukraine’s Azov Regiment. One Finnish member has reportedly travelled to Ukraine.
Supo is aware of far-right individuals who have gained training or combat experience abroad before returning to Finland. These individuals are currently not seen as a direct terrorism threat, though their presence may support the development of organised extremist activity.
Active Club was founded in the United States in 2020 and has grown quickly. A recent report counted 187 active chapters in 27 countries.
Despite the absence of a direct terrorist threat, Finnish authorities continue to monitor Active Club’s activities due to its ideological orientation, methods of recruitment, and potential to spread extremist views under the guise of fitness and cultural identity.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
