Nine people have been arrested after a group of neo-Nazis who threw a pub party to celebrate the birthday of Adolf Hitler last month. Members of the far-right group British Movement North West posted pictures online of themselves eating a cake with swastika icing and appeared to hold up Nazi flags at the Duke of Edinburgh in Market Street, Royton, Oldham.
The pub’s owners said its staff had been tricked by the group, who had allegedly concealed their Nazi paraphernalia. Police have now executed search warrants in Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton, Urmston, Southport and Merseyside where officers discovered an imitation AK47 rifle, a suspected grenade, a crossbow, a series of fake handguns as well as a number of swords, one decorated with a swastika. Police also found a ”Zyklon’ gas canister, which was used by the Nazis in the mass killing of Jews in the Second World War.
Greater Manchester Police said the gas canister was not viable and the grenade was found to be safe, according to bomb disposal officers from the Army.
The force said “as a matter of course” it had been in contact with Counter Terrorism Policing North West who had “offered advice” on some of the materials seized.
A spokesman for GMP confirmed that nine people, aged from their 20s to their 60s, were arrested on suspicion of a section 18 public order offence, which prohibits “threatening, abusive or insulting” displays of written material intended to stir up racial hatred.
The police operation follows an exposé of north west members of the fringe far-right extremist group British Movement who pulled out racist flags and a cake decorated with a swastika at the Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday April 19.
Pub staff claimed that when they realised what was happening they reported the matter to police. Video footage from the gathering showed men holding a flag emblazoned with a swastika, SS bolts and the Iron Cross as they pose in photos with several other men, one of whom is holding up a British Movement flag.
The footage also shows the men unfurling the flags to pose for pictures before quickly hiding them away.
A post on the group’s Telegram feed read: “On a gorgeous sunny afternoon in Greater Manchester, a platoon of Northwest British Movement met up to celebrate the 136th Birthday of Uncle A.”
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker of Greater Manchester Police said: “Due to the nature of the materials we recovered at the warrants today, we have liaised with colleagues at CTPNW. This is a matter of course, and it very much remains a GMP led investigation.
“It’s important all avenues are explored to establish the extent of the criminal offences which have been committed, and whilst our investigation is still in its early stages, we do not believe there to be a risk to the wider public.
“This group clearly has a deep fascination with ideas we know are unsettling for communities across Greater Manchester. We must take action when concerns are raised, and where weapons are suspected, to ensure people are free to live without fear of intimidation or harm.
“Public safety is at the forefront of our investigation, and as always, we ask you remain vigilant, and if you have any information or concerns, then to contact us.”