Three arrested in Britain in far-right terror probe

The arrests come as official figures showed a rise in the number of alleged far right extremists being held in British prisons

epa06597907 Police tape flutters near a forensic tent in Salisbury, Britain, 12 March 2017. Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were attacked with a nerve agent on 04 March 2018. Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in a 'very serious' condition.  EPA/NEIL HALL
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Police in Britain arrested three men on suspicion of terror offences on Thursday as part of an investigation into extreme right-wing activity.

A 21-year-old man from Bath, an 18-year-old from Portsmouth and a 17-year-old from London are being interviewed by police.

British media reports said the arrests were linked to alleged activity by neo-Nazi group, the Sonnenkrieg Division.

A BBC investigation published this week identified the group as a British offshoot of American group the Atomwaffen Division, which has been linked to five murders in the US.

An online propaganda image the BBC said was produced by the Sonnenkrieg Division called Prince Harry, the son of Queen Elizabeth, a “race traitor” and suggested he should be shot.

Prince Harry earlier this year married Meghan Markle, a former actress who is mixed race.

The BBC said it handed over its dossier to police, who said the arrests were part of a planned operation.

Four properties in Bath, Leeds, London and Portsmouth are also being searched as part of the investigation, police added.

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The 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of encouraging terrorism, dissemination of terrorist publications, and conspiracy to inspire racial or religious hatred.

The 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and conspiracy to inspire racial and religious hatred.

The 18-year-old suspect is accused of encouraging terrorism and dissemination of terrorist publications.

Thursday’s arrests came as latest Home Office figures showed a record 224 prisoners were being held in British prisons for terrorism-related offences. The figures also showed a 75 per cent increase in the number of alleged far-right extremists being detained.

“The proportion of prisoners holding far-right ideologies has increased steadily over the past three years, with the number up from 16 to 28 in the latest year,” a Home Office document said.