White supremacist group Feuerkrieg Division faces being proscribed by Home Secretary as terrorist organisation

Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked Parliament to back plans to proscribe a white supremacist group as a terrorist organisation

White supremacist group Feuerkrieg Division (FKD) could be outlawed after Home Secretary Priti Patel's request in Parliament yesterday (Wednesday) was back by MPs.

If successfully proscribed, FKD will join several other extreme-right groups which are documented as terrorist organisations.

FKD operates across Europe and North America, and previously shared a list of police buildings and an image of a senior police officer with a gun to his head featuring the words “Race traitor” after a 16-year-old member was held on terror charges in September last year.

Banned group National Action, pictured with convicted former leader Christopher Lythgoe (unpixellated)

Home Office minister Kevin Foster said the action taken would help to prevent the membership of FKD from growing and halt the spread of propaganda.

He told the Commons: “We can never entirely eliminate the threat from terrorism, but the Government is determined to do all we can to minimise the danger it poses and keep the public safe.

“The nature of terrorism is constantly evolving. There are organisations which recruit, radicalise, promote and encourage terrorism as well as those who actually commit terrible acts of violence against innocent people with the aim of undermining our democracy.

“Proscription is therefore an important part of the Government’s strategy to disrupt the full range of terrorist activities.”

Home Office minister Kevin Foster said "the nature of terrorism is constantly evolving"

National Action, Sonnenkrieg Division, Scottish Storm, NS131 and SRN are all currently proscribed by the Home Office.

Last month, three men and a woman were jailed for membership to National Action, which was described by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd as "virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic".

Alice Cutter and Mark Jones, both from Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, were jailed for five years and six months and three years respectively for membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation.

The court heard Ms Cutter had praised the 2016 murder of Batley & Spen MP Jo Cox.

Mark Jones, from Hebden Bridge, was jailed last month after he was convicted of being a member of banned group National Action

Garry Jack and Connor Scothern were also jailed.

Speaking about FKD, Mr Foster added that the group's actions "stirred up hatred" and "glorified violence" in ways which were reminiscent of "the darkest times in Europe".

“Proscribing this group will prevent its membership growing and help stop the spread of propaganda which allows a culture of hatred and division to thrive.

“It will also help prevent FKD from radicalising people who may be vulnerable to extreme ideologies and at risk of emulating the terrorist acts which they glorify.”