Detained neo-Nazi terror suspects 'serving British Army soldiers'

Four members of a banned neo-Nazi group who were arrested on terror offences were found to be serving members of the British army.

The suspects are a 22-year-old man from Birmingham, a 32-year-old man from Powys, a 24-year-old man from Ipswich and a 24-year-old man from Northampton - three of the four reportedly serve with the Royal Anglian Regiment.

“We can confirm that a number of serving members of the Army have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for being associated with a proscribed far right group,” a spokesperson said.

“These arrests are the consequence of a Home Office police force led operation supported by the Army. 

“This is now the subject of a civilian police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Some of the soldiers were arrested at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, the base of British operations against Islamic State territories in Syria, while others in Brecon, Ipswich, sources told Sky News.

“They have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000; namely on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation, National Action,” a West Midlands Police spokesperson added.

The group were said to be part of National Action – the first extreme right-wing group to be banned in the UK in December.

The group, described by the government as “a racist neo-Nazi group”, was established in 2013 and launched provocative protests in a bid to intimidate local communities across the country. 

“Its activities and propaganda materials are particularly aimed at recruiting young people,” a government document said.

“The group is virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic. Its ideology promotes the idea that Britain will inevitably see a violent ‘race war’, which the group claims it will be an active part of. 

“The group rejects democracy, is hostile to the British state and seeks to divide society by implicitly endorsing violence against ethnic minorities and perceived ‘race traitors’.”