Two British soldiers and a third man have been charged with terror offences including membership of a banned right-wing group.

They are 32-year-old Mikko Vevhilainen, originally from Finland and a member of the Army, Mark Barrett, 24, also with the Army, and 22-year-old Alex Deakin.

They are all accused of being part of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action, and two allegedly possessed articles that could be used for terrorism.

National Action, described by the Home Office as "virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic", became the first extreme right-wing organisation to be banned under anti-terrorism laws in December 2016.

The trio are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.


The charges came after a number of people were detained by officers from West Midlands Police Counter Terrorism Unit last week.

The force said the arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led and there was no risk to the public's safety.

A man from Northampton and another from Ipswich, both aged 24, were released without charge on Saturday following inquiries.

Detectives said Vehvilainen, from Sennybridge Camp, Brecon, Powys, is charged with one count of being a member of a proscribed organisation, namely National Action.

He is also accused of one count of possessing a document containing information of the kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He is also charged with two counts of publishing written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, by posting comments on a website intending thereby to stir up racial hatred or where having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up.

Barrett, from Dhekelia Garrison in Cyprus, is charged with one count of being a member of National Action.

Meanwhile, Deakin, from Great Barr, Birmingham, is charged with one count of being a member of National Action.

He is also charged with two counts under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 − possession of documents likely to be useful to a person preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

Deakin is also accused of one count of distribution of a terrorist publication.

He is charged separately with one count of inciting racial hatred. He is accused of posting National Action branded stickers at the Aston University campus in Birmingham on 9 July 2016.