Latest news with #BritishMovementNorthWest
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nine arrested over 'Hitler birthday party' in pub
Nine people have been arrested and weapons and Nazi memorabilia seized after a group "celebrated Adolf Hitler's birthday" in an Oldham pub. 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, last month. The pub's owners said its staff had been tricked by the group, who had allegedly concealed their Nazi paraphernalia. Greater Manchester Police said it had conducted morning raids across Rochdale, Bolton, Trafford, Stockport and Southport seizing swords, a crossbow, imitation firearms and a suspected grenade. The force said the nine had been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 Public Order Act offences, including displaying written material intended to stir up racial hatred. GMP 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. The owners of the Duke of Edinburgh pub said last month its staff had been tricked by the far-right group [Google] Following the recovery of a suspected grenade at a property in Bolton, Army bomb disposal experts were deployed and the item was declared safe. The force said officers remained at some of the properties while searches continued, and extra patrols had been deployed to reassure residents. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: "This group clearly has a deep fascination with ideas that 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." She said that while the investigation was at an early stage the force did not believe there was a wider threat to the public. A website run by the Neo-Nazi group described the event as a celebration of the "136th birthday of Uncle A". The write-up described "laughter and lively conversation" with members reminiscing "about the good times while planning their future BM escapades". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Related internet links
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
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 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." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
