Department of Defence supplier suspends employee with alleged Neo-Nazi links
Thales, a major supplier of security technology to the Australian Department of Defence, has suspended a staff member for allegedly being involved as administrator of a neo-Nazi web forum.Canberra-based Nicole Hanley, was exposed by the web site Wikileaks, established to whistleblow on sensitive issues, as allegedly having been an administrator of the web site run by Blood and Honour, an international neo-Nazi group.
Allegedly a supporter of the skinhead movement, Hanley’s involvement was brought to Thales’ attention by the online news service www.smh.com.au. The company, which operates in 50 countries and employs 68,000 people, states on its web site that it “plays a pivotal role in making the world a safer place.” Neither the Department of Defence or Thales had prior knowledge of Hanley’s activities.
Thales is reported to be doing business in “the hundreds of millions of dollars” with the Department of Defence supplying information systems.
Wikileaks has published cracked forums detailing Blood and Honour private messages which refer to Hanley’s online persona “blue-eyed blonde”. As such, a post was published in October 2006, detailing the burning of an Israeli flag at a Canberra meeting. Other posts refer to a visit to Hitler’s birthplace and attending ne0-Nazi concerts.
The matter is now under investigation.
