Secrets We Keep

Lone Actor - Episode 4 - The Balkans

Jul 23, 2025
The podcast dives into the chilling mindset of a terrorist influenced by Balkan nationalism. It explores historical ties and cultural implications behind extremist ideologies in the region. Through vivid imagery of Belgrade's beauty, it reveals the murky past of radicalization. The discussion extends to the peculiar life of a war criminal trying to manipulate his image in Australia. Additionally, it examines the unsettling connections between personal histories and modern terrorism, emphasizing the rise of far-right extremism and its global networks.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Song Glorifying Genocide as Meme

  • The song "Remove Kebab" glorifies the Bosnian War genocide and became a disturbing far-right meme online.
  • It was famously used by the Christchurch terrorist during his attack, linking hate speech and real violence.
INSIGHT

Balkan History Influenced Terrorist

  • The Christchurch terrorist's guns bore inscriptions of Serbian national heroes, indicating deep fascination with violent Balkan nationalist history.
  • His Islamophobic ideology included defending "white Europe" from Muslims, showing the Balkan influence on his mindset.
ANECDOTE

Captain Dragan's Denial and Influence

  • Captain Dragan, a Serbian war criminal with cult status, downplays atrocities and denies genocide.
  • He views accusations as Western conspiracies and rejects connection between Serbia and terrorism.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app