Men detained as part of investigation into banned National Action group as police search properties across England and Wales

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Counter-terrorism detectives have arrested 11 suspected members of a banned neo-Nazi group amid fears of a possible plot to target individuals.

Officers made the arrests across England and Wales in a series of co-ordinated raids as part of efforts to thwart National Action. A counter-terrorism chief said the neo-Nazi group was being treated as seriously as those committed to jihadist acts of terrorism.



Five men were arrested for allegedly planning terrorist acts, which are understood to relate to “threats against individuals”, a source with knowledge of the investigation said.

Counter-terrorism officers worked intensely to detain the 11 alleged neo-Nazis aged 22 to 35 in raids starting at 7am on Wednesday and stretching through to 11am.



Police chiefs want to thwart efforts from extreme rightwing terrorists to bring further violence to Britain.

Six men from the north-west of England were detained, including a man aged 22 already in prison, as well as two men from south Wales, two men from west Yorkshire and one man from Wiltshire.

All were arrested on suspicion of belonging to National Action. Of the 11, five were also arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

The senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, the deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu, said: “Counter-terrorism policing is committed to tackling all forms of extremism that threaten public safety and security. Investigations relating to alleged extreme rightwing activity are pursued with the same level or resource and vigour as other ideologies, in order to bring suspected offenders before the courts.

“Today’s arrests, while resulting from two separate investigations, have been coordinated by our officers across a number of forces. This maximises operational effectiveness for police and minimises disruption for the local communities.”

Eleven properties were being searched as part of the investigation.

National Action, an antisemitic, white supremacist group, was banned as a terrorist organisation by the home secretary, Amber Rudd, in December 2016.

Police said the arrests followed activity this month by the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit, which resulted in three men, including two British soldiers, appearing in court accused of being members of National Action.

It is understood that Wednesday’s arrests followed the result of inquiries identifying suspected members of National Action.

Part of the investigation is examining whether any of those arrested on Wednesday were in contact with each other and if so, whether that was related to activities connected to National Action.

The Ministry of Defence said none of those arrested on Wednesday was a member of the military.

DCS Martin Snowden, the head of counter-terrorism policing in north-east England, said: “Today’s arrests are part of coordinated action by the national counter-terrorism network and UK policing. Those who promote extreme rightwing views are looking to divide our communities and spread hatred. This will not be tolerated and those who do so must be brought to justice.”

The arrests include:

A 24-year-old man from Seaforth, a 23-year-old man from Newton-le-Willows and a 33-year-old man from Prescot, all three in Merseyside, and a 31-year-old man and a 35-year-old man both from Warrington, Cheshire, on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, funding terrorism and membership of a proscribed organisation.

A 22-year-old prisoner from Lancashire on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and membership of a proscribed organisation.

A 28-year-old man from Swansea on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation and possession of terrorism material or documents.

A 23-year-old man from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, a 23-year-old man from Swansea, a 26-year-old man from Leeds and a 30-year-old man from Wiltshire on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation.

Last year, Rudd said National Action had no place in British society.

“National Action is a racist, antisemitic and homophobic organisation, which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology, and I will not stand for it,” she said. “It has absolutely no place in a Britain that works for everyone. I am clear that the safety and security of our families, communities and country comes first.”

The group, which praised the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox, has held demonstrations in UK cities with banners declaring: “Hitler was right.”

The slogan on its former website was: “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain,” which was the only statement given in court by Cox’s murderer, Thomas Mair.

The group has been filmed telling a small group of supporters about “the disease of international Jewry” and that “when the time comes they’ll be in the chambers”. It has also been filmed training supporters in hand-to-hand combat.