Neo-Nazi, 28, with a ‘thirst for gratuitous violence’ who vowed to ‘wage a holy war against Jews’ after joining National Action is jailed for three years after police found deadly cache of air rifles at his home
- Daniel Ward, from Birmingham, had approach to National Action so ‘full-on’ that even Nazi extremists took step back
- He told online group: ‘All I have to offer is my thirst for gratuitous violence’
- Police found air rifles, ammo and extreme right-wing propaganda at his home
A racist thug with a ‘thirst for gratuitous violence’ has been jailed for three years after he admitted being part of a banned Neo-Nazi terrorist group.
Daniel Ward, 28, of Bartley Green, Birmingham, vowed to ‘wage a holy war against Jews’ after becoming a member of the far-right group National Action.
Police swooped at Ward’s home in September last year and uncovered a cache of air rifles, ammo and extreme right-wing propaganda.
Daniel Ward, 28, vowed to wage a holy war against Jews after becoming a member of the far-right group National Action. Birmingham Crown Court heard how pictures of him posing in a sinister skull mask and making a Nazi salute with fellow members was also found on his phone
Birmingham Crown Court heard how pictures of him posing in a sinister skull mask and making a Nazi salute with fellow members was also found on his phone.
He had also made internet searches on how to make a tear gas grenade and where to buy potassium nitrate as well as semi-automatic weapons.
Ward, who was also known as Opie, was described in court as having an approach to National Action which was ‘so full on that even Nazi extremists took a step back.’
He told fellow members he was ‘100% committed’ to fighting a war and how ‘Hitler was right…Jews and their puppets are the cause of all evil and unrest in this world.’
Ward admitted belonging to a proscribed group on January 28.
Police swooped at Ward’s home in September last year and uncovered a cache of air rifles, ammo and extreme right-wing propaganda
Today he was jailed for three years at Birmingham Crown Court and told he will spend a further 10 years on licence.
Ward was arrested in September last year and a warrant executed at his home uncovered weapons including air rifles and ammunition.
Prosecutor Barnaby Jameson QC told the court: ‘His approach to National Action was so full-on that even Nazi extremists took a step back.
What is National Action and when was the neo-Nazi terror group formed?
National Action was the first extreme right-wing group to be proscribed since World War Two, and the 85th group to be proscribed in the UK.
It was most likely co-founded by Benjamin Raymond and Alex Davies in 2013 and operated by targeting university campuses as sites for flyering and recruitment in its ‘reign of terror’.
It was an uncompromising Neo-Nazi group that expressed virulent hatred for non-whites and ‘especially Jews’, glorifying Hitler and inciting violence against its perceived enemies, the court heard.
Trial prosecutor Mr Atkinson said its logo bore a ‘striking similarity’ to the badge of the Sturmabteilung – Nazi Germany’s ‘SA’.
Lythgoe acted as leader, with Hankinson responsible for security and Renshaw as one of the group’s spokesmen, it is alleged.
They recruited via close friendship networks or by word of mouth, mever exceeding 100 members with no more than two or three dozen attendees at each rally, jurors heard.
In September 2013 the group released a ‘Strategy and Promotion’ document detailing their plans to ‘make way for National Socialism to enter British politics.’
‘On October 19, 2016 Ward sent an email to National Action’s contact address. He said he was white English from Birmingham and considered himself ‘fanatical’ in his beliefs.
‘He went on to say: ‘We are at war and it’s time for me to fight for my children’s future and the future of our people.
‘I am 100% committed and genuine. All I have to offer is my thirst for gratuitous violence! If I can be of any help to you guys, I’m in. Best regards, Opie.’
‘He also said he was impressed with National Action’s military channels ‘…you seem almost militarised in your actions and sabotage.’ ‘
He signed off: ‘And as much as I’ve been told all my life Hitler was this and that he WAS right Jews and their puppets are the cause of all evil and unrest in this world!
‘Sorry if I’ve gone on I just have nobody to discuss this with.’
‘Later the same day, Ward made internet searches on how to make a tear gas grenade and where to buy potassium nitrate – a chemical found in, among other things, fireworks.
‘The previous week he had been searching for semi-automatic weapons to buy in the UK.
‘Ward was asked along to the National Action meeting in Dudley where he was photographed giving the Nazi salute
‘Ward went on to flout the National Action ban, though at one stage he went his own way, emailing to say he was impatient for a war on Jews and had no interest in being involved with ‘dreamers’.’
National Action was formed in 2013 and in December 2016 became the first organisation to be banned by the government since World War Two following the murder of MP Jo Cox.