UK moves to proscribe neo-Nazi groups Atomwaffen Division and National Socialist Order

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has called for the proscription of the neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division (AWD). This would make membership of the group punishable by up to ten years in prison.

AWD is a paramilitary neo-Nazi group that trains its members in the use of firearms and reportedly seeks to ignite a race war in the United States. Last year, a member of AWD who made terror threats against American Jewish journalists and activists was sentenced to sixteen months in federal prison in Washington state.  

The Home Secretary has also called for the National Socialist Order (NSO) to be listed as an official alias of AWD. This decision comes after AWD apparently disbanded in the UK last year. However, only a few months later in July, the NSO declared itself to be the group’s successor.

Ms Patel said: “Vile and racist white supremacist groups like this exist to spread hate, sow division and advocate the use of violence to further their sick ideologies. I will do all I can to protect young and vulnerable people from being radicalised which is why I am taking action to proscribe this dangerous group.”

Last year, the Home Secretary proscribed the neo-Nazi Sonnenkrieg Division as a terrorist group. This follows the proscription of National Action in 2016, for which Campaign Against Antisemitism had called.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.