Swelling numbers in hate mobs

THE far right look to be on the march in Poland.

After communism in the country ended in 1989, only dribs and drabs of such extremists began to surface. But there weren’t enough of them to be taken seriously.

A few years ago, they began marching in very small numbers on the country’s annual Independence Day celebrations in the capital Warsaw in November.

Last year, 60,000 “patriotic” marchers showed up.

Not all of them were neo-Nazis but they included people who marched under the names of prewar nationalist groups.

Some held racist signs saying “White Europe” or “Clean Blood.”

Nick Lowles, from UK anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate, said the Independence Day march has become a “magnet for far-right groups around the world”.

At last November’s event, some of the crowd marched under the slogan “We Want God!”.

Many carried the Polish white-and-red flag. Others held aloft banners showing a falanga, a far-right symbol dating back to the 30s.

Former English Defence League leader Stephen Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, and Roberto Fiore from Italy were among the far-right leaders who were at the march.

A smaller counter-protest by an anti-fascist movement was held at the event.

Several women carrying “Stop fascism” banners were pushed and kicked.