Army was warned of neo-nazi infiltration

THE police and the military were warned eight months ago that National Action, a banned extremist group, was trying to infiltrate the Armed Forces, it has emerged.

Five men, four of whom are serving soldiers, are currently being held on suspicion of terrorism offences after a “pre-planned and intelligence-led” swoop by the authorities.

But as the questioning of the men continued, it emerged that a leading anti-extremism group has repeatedly highlighted the fact that National Action – banned by the Government in December 2016 in the wake of the murder of MP Jo Cox – was still active.

A blog titled “A look behind the scenes in National Action”, posted in December 2016 just before the ban came into force, detailed training and “hate camps” organised by the group.

The HOPE not hate blog pointed out: “A number of National Action supporters/members have decided, however, to apply to join the British Army.”

In January, the charity then named and photographed a man who they identified as a National Action member who had successfully signed up to the Army. The charity’s website also named two members who were applying for jobs in the Army in April.

Police and the military were sent links to the blogs by concerned members of the public, it is understood.

HOPE not hate also detailed how “violence and acting like paramilitaries became more and more important”.

Matthew Collins, of HOPE not hate, said: “Nothing was done about it. National Action are far more determined, far more sophisticated, than other groups. They are not just Hitler admirers, they are at the point where they admire all kinds of genocide.”

It comes as experts warn that farright groups have increasingly tried to align themselves with the military particularly in the wake of Lee Rigby’s murder and threats against soldiers.

Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, was “very concerned” about news of the arrests but said extremist views are “absolutely nothing to do with the values and ethos of the Armed Forces”.

Three of the arrested men belong to the Royal Anglian Regiment and a fourth is from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.