Nikolas Cruz in white supremacy links: Florida shooting gunman 'was member of nationalist group who joined paramilitary drills'

Cruz has admitted killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, according to authorities ++++ He was a member of a white nationalist group with which he participated in paramilitary drills 
Nikolas Cruz: The school shooting suspect, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, makes an appearance in Broward County Court
AP
Robin de Peyer16 February 2018

Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz was a member of a white nationalist group with which he participated in paramilitary drills, its leader said.

Cruz has admitted to killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, according to authorities.

The leader of a far-right militia called the Republic of Florida said the 19-year-old had been a member of his organisation and participated in exercises with the group.

Jordan Jereb said he did not know Cruz personally and that "he acted on his own behalf" and is "solely responsible for what he just did".

The group wants Florida to become its own white ethno-state.

Florida shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz's Instagram pictures

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Mr Jereb said his organisation holds "spontaneous random demonstrations" and tries not to participate in the modern world.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said he could not confirm any ties Cruz may have had to white nationalists.

The revelations came as officials said Cruz legally purchased the AR-15 rifle he used in Wednesday’s rampage, which was the deadliest school shooting in the US since one in Sandy Hook in 2012.

At a court hearing on Thursday, a judge ordered that he should be held without bail on 17 counts of murder.

Cruz was wearing an orange jumpsuit with his hands cuffed at his waist during the Thursday afternoon hearing.

His lawyer did not contest the order and had her arm around Cruz during the brief court appearance.

Cruz confessed to carrying out one of the nation's deadliest school shootings and concealing extra ammunition in his backpack, according to a sheriff's department report.

The report from the Broward County Sheriff's Office said Cruz told investigators that he shot students in the hallways and on the grounds of the school, which has 3,000 students.

Cruz told officers he brought more loaded magazines to the school and kept them hidden in the backpack until he got on campus.

As students began to flee, he said, he decided to discard his AR-15 rifle and a vest he was wearing so he could blend in with the crowd.

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