A MILITANT black nationalist group called the Nation of Islam has been thrust into the spotlight after it emerged that the Capitol attack suspect was a fanatical follower.

Spewing a rhetoric of innate black superiority, the group adopts principles of Islam swirled with a repugnant theology that ridicules minority groups and endorses African-American self-sufficiency.

It was catapulted into mainstream culture under the leadership of Louis Farrakhan and Elijah Muhammad from 1934 to 1975 – and is now at the center of the fatal car-and-knife rampage targeting the US Capitol this weekend.

According to reports, Noah Green ploughed a blue Nissan Altima sedan into a barrier outside the Capitol in D.C on Friday afternoon, killing officer William Evans and injuring another.

It has since emerged that the troubled 25-year-old was infatuated with Farrakhan and even praised him as "Jesus", before he embarked upon his spree of destruction.

Yet a statement from Green's family and claims from an anonymous U.S. official suggest the unemployed undergraduate had been suffering from delusions, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts.

His relatives have insisted Green was "not a terrorist by any means," and that his "potential mental illness" may have stemmed from his years of football.

The distinction of the dangerous teachings spouted by the NOI has long been disputed – after it was originally disregarded as a "voodoo sect" throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

It was branded a "hate group arising in our midst that would preach the doctrine of Black supremacy," by civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr. and denounced as "sickness and madness" by Malcolm X upon his departure from the group in the 60's.

At the core of their principles is a burning racist, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBTQ sentiment, paired with a feverish thought that black elevation can only come from a radical overthrow of white people.

They believe Jews manipulate the government and perform chemical experiments on Black Americans, and deem white people as "devils".

DIVISIVE IDEOLOGY

Although the Nation of Islam insists it is Islamic, it is a vast contradiction from the traditional religious doctrine.

Under the authority of Farrakhan and Muhammad, their beloved organization continued to expand, even enticing boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Hidden beneath the surface of the high-profile followers, its divisive ideology remained.

After longtime leader Elijah Muhammad died in 1975 and was succeeded by one of his sons, it sparked a catalyst of events that led to Farrakhan being renowned as the religious group's frontman.

He shunned his former mentor's son, Warith Deen Muhammad, and his intentions to redirect the group away from racial separatism, insisting they must remain true to Elijah's teachings.

Farrakhan decided to begin a new organization to keep the longstanding legacy afloat – that remains almost a century later.

At the Million Man March in Washington D.C. in October 1995, Farrakhan told the crowd of hundreds of thousands that white supremacy was the root of America's suffering.

This only fueled racial tensions, but proved successful for the NOI. It is regarded as one of the largest gatherings of its kind in US history.

Farrakhan has continued to spout theories that the LGBTQ+ community, Catholics and Whites are merely "potential humans who haven't evolved yet," and brands Judaism as the "dirty religion".

Conflictingly, the Bronx-born activist began building relationships with neo-Nazis and other far-right organizations, including the Klu Klux Klan.

He has remained a vocal defender of foreign dictators, including the likes ofMuhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, Idi Amin of Uganda, and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Farrakhan's established associations with radical groups have stood the test of time and saw him forge new alliances in the modern world.

His 2017 tweet that read: "Black People: We should be more convinced that it is time for us to separate and build a nation of our own," was applauded and reposted by White nationalist leaders like Michael “Enoch” Peinovich, Richard Spencer, and Jared Taylo.

It is clear Farrakhan's influence somehow continues to break barriers – both generational and societal – as the suspected Capitol killer Noah Green dubbed him "the Messiah" in a Facebook post.

In a string of obsessive posts, he wrote: "I consider him my spiritual father. Without his guidance, his word, and his teachings that I’ve picked up on along the way, I would’ve been unable to continue."

Green allegedly also dubbed the US government the "#1 enemy of Black people!" in an Instagram post.

A number of his social media posts were flagged by the SITE Intelligence Group, who monitor radical online activity.

It seems Green, who rammed a car into two officers at a barricade outside the US. Capitol before emerging with a knife, was inspired by the Nation of Islam teachings as he embarked on a "search of a spiritual journey".

He had also shared posts detailing how he had found the past few years "tough" and the past few months "tougher".

His brother Brendan also revealed more details about how the 25-year-old's behavior had become increasingly erratic and how he even claimed to have attempted suicide.

It is feared the tragic attack that saw Green shot dead was somewhat encouraged by the bizarre characteristics of one of the most controversial organizations in black America.

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