ELEVEN people, including two men from Warrington, have been arrested this morning by anti-terrorism police as part of an investigation into banned Nazi terror group National Action.
The two men aged 35 and 31, from Warrington, have been arrested on suspicion of Preparation Of A Terrorist Act (s5 TACT 2006), Funding Terrorism (s15 TACT 2006) and Membership Of A Proscribed Organisation (s11 TACT 2006);
National Action are an extreme right wing group that were proscribed in the UK in December 2016.
One of Warrington properties is understood to be home of Christopher Lythgoe, who has been named leader of National Action.
As part of coordinated activity, officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East and North West, supported by Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit and Wiltshire Police have arrested:
· Six men from the North West area, one of which has been produced from prison
· Two men from South Wales area
· Two men from the West Yorkshire area
· One man from Wiltshire area
Eleven properties, including one in greymist Avenue, Woolston, are being searched across a number of force areas in England and Wales.
The arrests follow activity earlier this month by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, who is responsible for counter terrorism policing for the North West, said: “We are committed to taking positive action such as this to remove those connected to organisations, such as National Action, from our communities.
“Individuals involved in proscribed organisations who support extremist ideologies bring damaging consequences to local communities but with the help of the public and our partners, we will do everything we can do bring these people to justice.
“All information received will be dealt with in the strictest confidence and can be passed to us anonymously by calling the Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0800 789 321”
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu for The Metropolitan Police, said: “CT policing is committed to tackling all forms of extremism that threatens public safety and security. Investigations relating to alleged extreme right wing 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.”
Last month warrington-worldwide reported that police were investigating claims that a banned “Nazi terror group” has set up a training camp in Warrington.
The investigation followed a report by the Hope not Hate charitable trust alleged the banned National Action group was actively recruiting and training from warehouse premises in Warrington.
National Action propaganda
Related article:
Police investigate claims banned Nazi terror group have base in Warrington
