Soldiers held over links to ‘Far Right terrorism’
FOUR British soldiers and a civilian were arrested yesterday accused of being neo-Nazi terrorists.
One Army member is understood to have been held by the Royal Military Police in Cyprus.
The other men were detained by West Midlands Police with Army support as part of a “pre-planned and intelligence-led” operation.
All five were arrested under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of being members of banned neo-Nazi group National Action.
It was outlawed by the Home Office last year after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by Right-wing extremist Thomas Mair.
Among the men held were a 22-year-old from Birmingham, a 24-year-old from Ipswich and a 24-year-old from Northampton.
One of the soldiers is understood to be a highly experienced 32-yearold Army fitness instructor based at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, Powys.
Searched
At least two of the soldiers are thought to be from the Royal Anglian Regiment and may have met the instructor during training.
In a statement, police said the suspects were arrested “on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism”.
The arrests were carried out by police in conjunction with counterterrorism units from the West Midlands, Wales and the East Midlands.
Several properties were being searched last night following the arrests.
National Action became the first extreme Right-wing group to be banned under terrorism laws in December 2016.
Being a member of, or inviting support for, National Action is a criminal offence carrying a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The Home Office describes the group as “virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic”. It was set up in 2013 and has branches across the UK which “conduct provocative street demonstrations and stunts aimed at intimidating local communities”, the Home Office said.
It said the group’s online propaganda material frequently features extremely violent imagery and language and cited tweets posted in connection with Mrs Cox’s murder.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd proscribed National Action after an assessment that it was “concerned in terrorism” ahead of Mair’s trial. In 2016, 22 suspected members or associates of National Action were arrested.
Yesterday a police spokesman said: “The arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led – there was no threat to the public’s safety.”
The Army confirmed serving soldiers had been held. A spokesman added: “These arrests are the consequence of a West Midlands Police Force led operation supported by the Army. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”