Police probe over 'Hitler's birthday' pub gathering
Police are investigating reports a far-right group displayed Nazi symbols in an Oldham pub during a "celebration" of Adolf Hitler's birthday. Images shared online showed members of British Movement North West holding Nazi flags and cutting a cake in the shape of a swastika.Greater Manchester Police said it was investigating a suspected offence of displaying material intended to incite racial hatred at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Market Street, Royton. The owners of the pub said staff had been tricked by the group, who they said had briefly displayed the paraphernalia in an area not easily visible from the bar.
Local MP Jim McMahon described the news as "vile" and said it was "a stark reminder that the threat of the far-right is real".Mr McMahon, Labour member for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, added: "It is an affront to those from the town who gave their lives to fight the Nazis and whose names are listed just a short distance at Royton Park."
Photographs of the gathering were posted on a website run by the Neo-Nazi group, which described it as a celebration of the "136th birthday of Uncle A" on a "gorgeous sunny afternoon in Greater Manchester". A write-up of the event described "laughter and lively conversation" with members reminiscing "about the good times while planning their future BM escapades". A website for the North West chapter of the organisation described itself as "a force for the preservation of white Aryan culture". It mentioned other social events, including a "Yorkshire führer hike" in reference to the dictator who led Nazi Germany during World War Two. A spokesman for Craft Union, which owns the Duke of Edinburgh, said the images had been "incredibly distressing" for its staff. The company said a group had entered "under the pretext" of celebrating a birthday and gathered in a back area of the premises.
'Absolutely appalled'
The spokesman said: "The group actively concealed their clothing and their activities during the visit and as a result, their actions were not visible to staff at the time."The landlord of the pub contacted the police "immediately" after discovering what the group had been doing, the spokesman said. "To be clear, we are absolutely appalled at what took place", he added."We do not and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, and these people aren't welcome in any of our venues. "We are focused on uniting our local communities, not dividing them. We are supporting our operator to look after their team, who are understandably incredibly distressed by the incident."Greater Manchester Police said the report was being investigated as a potential offence under Section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986. A spokesperson said: "We are treating this incident with the utmost sensitivity and severity, and we are appealing to the public. "If you have any information which may assist with the progression of the investigation, please to come forward."
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