Britons join neo-Nazi militia in Ukraine
UK facing ‘surging and constantly evolving’ threat from far-right terrorism, watchdog warns
British fighters are travelling to Ukraine to join a neo-Nazi paramilitary group, according to the latest report from an anti-racism watchdog.
Hope Not Hate warns that people linked to the Azov battalion, a militia fighting Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine, are actively recruiting far-right activists from Britain, The Guardian reports.
The militia’s commander, Andriy Biletsky, previously led a hard-right nationalist movement called Patriot of Ukraine. According to The Hill, Biletsky has stated that Ukraine must “lead the white races of the world in a final crusade for their survival … against the Semite-led untermenschen” - a German term from Nazi racial ideology used to describe supposedly inferior people.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At least two Britons are thought to have travelled to the war-torn country to join the Azov battalion in recent months, says Hope Not Hate.
The watchdog’s annual report warns that the UK is facing a “surging and constantly evolving” threat from far-right terrorism and violent extremism.
“As traditional British far-right groups collapse, far-right-inspired terrorism is on the rise,” the organisation says. “Replacing old-fashioned racial nationalism is anti-Muslim hatred.
“Today’s key activists tend to be younger, operate online and have little of the obvious ‘Nazi’ baggage of their predecessors.”
The publication of the report comes just days after Mark Rowley, the outgoing head of counterterrorism policing in the UK, said the public should be “gravely concerned” about neo-Nazi group National Action.
The now-banned organisation idolises Adolf Hitler, advocates ethnic cleansing and has voiced support for Thomas Mair, the far-right terrorist who murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.
Four right-wing terror plots have been foiled in the past year alone, Assistant Commissioner Rowley revealed.
Nick Lowles, head of Hope Not Hate, says he fears further violence from the extreme right in the months to come, adding: “It is vitally important now that police and the Government do more to crack down on the peddlers of hate and those pushing a civil war rhetoric.”
Responding to the report, Security Minister Ben Wallace said the Government’s Prevent strategy is “successfully fighting back” against the terrorist recruiters, whether they be Islamists, neo-Nazis or other violent extremists.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
DOJ charges 2 in white nationalist 'Terrorgram' plot
Feds say Dallas Humber and Matthew Allison were plotting assassinations through a terrorist network on Telegram
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Red Army Faction: German fugitive arrested after decades on run
Why Everyone's Talking About Police reward and TV appeal leads to capture of Daniela Klette, now 65
By The Week UK Published
-
Attacking the grid
Speed Read Domestic terrorism targeting the U.S. electric grid is exposing dangerous vulnerabilities
By The Week Staff Published
-
Terror police probe uranium seized at Heathrow
Speed Read The radioactive substance was found during routine inspection of package flown into the airport
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
Manchester bombing report exposes ‘incompetence’
Speed Read Newly published findings of public inquiry into 2017 attack describe a litany of failures
By The Week Staff Published
-
The terrorism 'mastermind'
Speed Read Before he was killed in a U.S. drone strike, Ayman al-Zawahiri was one of the most wanted men in the world
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
By The Week Staff Published
-
U.S. facing increased threat of extremism over next 6 months, DHS warns
Speed Read
By Brigid Kennedy Published