Footage has emerged of members of the controversial far-right group Britain First ‘training’ with knives in Snowdonia National Park.
The video and pictures were released by the group and show their supporters at an ‘activist training camp’ where they practise self-defence and knife techniques – only days after the death of Jo Cox.
Members of the openly nationalistic group can be seen in the photos swearing an oath on the Union Jack just outside of Dolbadarn Castle in the picturesque park, The Mirror reports.
The group’s training has managed to annoy locals in Llanberis and councillor Trevor Edwards has told the group to stay out of the area.
He said:
We do not want them here. I don’t want them here. I don’t think anyone from around here would want to be associated with them.
I will look into who owns the land to allow this. I am certainly not comfortable with having these sorts of people in Llanberis.
Britain First’s website has claimed this camp was their first ‘activist training camp’ – which eerily echos the training camp videos of ISIS and the Taliban – and they promise they’ll be ‘many more of these training events in the future’.
They claim that knowing self defence is crucial to keep their activists safe as knives are ‘prevalent in our society’ although they deny wanting trouble.
There have been conflicting reports as to whether Thomas Mair, the man who murdered Jo Cox, shouted ‘Britain First’ or ‘put Britain first’ when he attacked Ms Cox with a knife and gun.
Matthew Collins, of Hope Not Hate, has claimed that the group are clearly preparing for a confrontation.
He said:
Any organisation that uses such hate-inciting language as Britain First should be having a look at themselves after the shocking act earlier this week…
This is not the WI we are talking about, baking cakes or contributing to society. You can see they are preparing themselves for confrontation. They are a hate group and they campaign about immigration, Muslims and abortion.”
Britain First formed in 2011 by the remnants of the British National Party (BNP).The organisation has around 6,000 members but it has over a million followers on Facebook.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.