11 March 1999 Edition
Brits in Combat 18 inquiry
In the wake of allegations of widespread racism within the ranks of the British police and army, MI5 has arrested two serving British soldiers who have been charged with public order offences in connection with their active involvement in Combat 18, a neo-Nazi organisation closely associated with Loyalist groups. The two are believed to be the tip of a much larger iceberg of Combat 18 sympathisers within the British army after a concerted recruitment campaign over the past two years. At least twelve other serving soldiers have also been questioned in connection with Combat 18 membership.
The soldiers were named as Darren Theron a member of the Parachute Regiment who has served a tour of duty in the Six Counties, and Carl Wilson of the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment who was allegedly part of the gang of fascists who attacked the Bloody Sunday march in London in January. Also questioned was Gary Deathridge a member of the Territorial Army, who is known to have attended UVF rallys in the past and has been a member of the Combat 18 `security' for the London Apprentice Boys rally.
Combat 18 is a violent, openly fascist wannabe paramilitary organisation (the numbers 1 and 8 refer to the initials of Adolf Hitler's name) which advocates the persecution and murder of black and Jewish people, homosexuals and other minority groups including Catholics. It has in the past published hitlists containing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of those it considers ``enemies of the white race''. Anti-fascist campaigners had believed the group to be on the verge of collapse in recent years, but are now warning of a resurgence of its campaign.
The soldiers were named as Darren Theron a member of the Parachute Regiment who has served a tour of duty in the Six Counties, and Carl Wilson of the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment who was allegedly part of the gang of fascists who attacked the Bloody Sunday march in London in January. Also questioned was Gary Deathridge a member of the Territorial Army, who is known to have attended UVF rallys in the past and has been a member of the Combat 18 `security' for the London Apprentice Boys rally.
Combat 18 is a violent, openly fascist wannabe paramilitary organisation (the numbers 1 and 8 refer to the initials of Adolf Hitler's name) which advocates the persecution and murder of black and Jewish people, homosexuals and other minority groups including Catholics. It has in the past published hitlists containing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of those it considers ``enemies of the white race''. Anti-fascist campaigners had believed the group to be on the verge of collapse in recent years, but are now warning of a resurgence of its campaign.