‘Neo nazi’ soldiers to stand trial

Two soldiers accused of being members of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action will stand trial in March.

Private Mark Barrett, 24, and Lance Corporal Mikko Vehvilainen, 32, were arrested on September 5 on suspicion of joining the proscribed organisation.

A third man, civilian Alexander Deakin, 22, was also arrested and charged with a string of terrorism offences relating to the two terror suspects.

Barrett denied any involvement with National Action, entering a not guilty plea to one count of belonging to a proscribed organisation.

Deakin allegedly possessed one document called ‘White Resistance Manual’ which is described as being ‘likely to be useful to a person preparing to commit acts of terrorism’.

Vehvilainen, originally from Finland, also allegedly posted abusive comments on website ‘christogenea.org’ and possessed a document called ‘2083 A European Declaration of Independence’ by Andrew Berwick.

Deakin and Barrett appeared at the Old Bailey today (thurs) via video link from HMP Winchester and Vehvilainen appeared via video from HMP Belmarsh.

Mr Justice Holroyde said they will next appear for a plea hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 3 January.

He said a four-week trial will begin at the same court on 5 March.

‘The defendants are charged with membership of a proscribed organisation contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000,’ he added.

National Action were the first right-wing terror group to be banned by new terror laws introduced in 2016.

The Home Office described them as ‘virulently racist, anti-semitic and homophobic’.

Deakin, of Beacon Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, is charged with two counts of possession of documents likely to be useful to a person preparing to commit acts of terrorism, one count distributing terrorist material and one count of belonging to a proscribed organisation.

Barrett, of Dhekalia Camp in Cyprus, denies one count of belonging to a proscribed organisation.

Vehvilainen, of Seenybridge Camp, Powys, is charged with one count of possession of documents likely to be useful to a person preparing to commit acts of terrorism, two counts of publishing threatening abusive comments online intending to stir up racial hatred.

He is also charged with possession of a weapon, pepper spray.

Vehvilainen, Deakin and Barrett were remanded in custody until a preliminary hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 3 January.