UK to ban white supremacists as terrorists

By Edward Era Barbacena

The Home Office said The Base shared much of its ideology and mission with Atomwaffen Division, which it banned earlier this year.

Priti Patel, the home secretary, said: “We continue to take robust action against evil white supremacist groups, who target vulnerable people across the world to join in their hateful ideologies and their sick promotion of violence.

“I am committed to making it as difficult as possible for these organisations to operate in the UK, both by banning them and increasing the penalties for membership or support, in order to protect the public and our national security.”

Proscription makes it a criminal offence in Britain to be a member of the group or invite support for it, with maximum prison sentences of 14 years for membership.

The order was laid in parliament on Monday and, if approved by MPs, will come into force later this week.

Officials said the ban followed advice from a proscription review group, including intelligence agencies and experts.

“The Base has celebrated and promoted the use of violence in an attempt to establish a fascist, white ethno-state by means of a ‘race war’, and members are known to have engaged in weapons and explosives training,” a Home Office spokesperson said.