Greek Police have formally charged the leader and spokesman of the far-right Golden Dawn party on the grounds of participating in a criminal organisation.

Party leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos, spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris and three other Golden Dawn parliamentarians were taken into custody and charged yesterday evening.

Mr Mihaloliakos will also be among several members of the group charged with possessing illegal arms, after police confiscated two guns and a hunting rifle from his home, saying he did not have a licence for them.

All five will remain in police custody until their appearance before a magistrate, according to a Greek court source.

A sixth parliamentarian, Christos Pappas, described in a prosecutor’s report as the “Golden Dawn’s No 2”, is yet to be arrested.

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