Man is one of six charged with being members of banned neo-Nazi group National Action

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A man arrested as part of an inquiry into banned neo-Nazi terror group National Action has been charged with encouragement to murder an MP.

Police said Christopher Lythgoe, 31, from Warrington, Cheshire, had been charged with encouragement to murder the Labour MP for West Lancashire, Rosie Cooper.

Lythgoe was also one of six men charged with being members of a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Cooper said in a statement: “I would like to thank everyone involved in this case, especially the counter-terrorism police, for keeping me, my staff and the public safe. There remains an ongoing criminal investigation so it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.”



Police carried out a series of raids across England and Wales on 27 September as part of a major investigation into the far-right group, which has been banned since December 2016.



The operation included officers from counter-terrorism policing north east and north west, and was supported by Wales extremism and counter-terrorism unit and Wiltshire police.

Four other men charged with belonging to the group are: Garron Helm, 24, of Seaforth, Liverpool; Matthew Hankinson, 23, of Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside; Andrew Clarke, 33, of Warrington; and Michal Trubini, 35, also from Warrington.

A 22-year-old man, who cannot be named, has also been charged with belonging to a proscribed organisation, as well as the intention of committing acts of terrorism and threats to kill. All six are due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Friday.

National Action became the first extreme right-wing group to be banned under terrorism laws in December 2016. The proscription means that being a member of or inviting support for the organisation is a criminal offence carrying a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.