The United Kingdom is the closest ally of the USA and the British government generally tows the American line. The British maintain an army of about 80000 soldiers which has a long and rich history of over a thousand years. Many regiments of the Army trace their lineage to many hundreds of years. In recent history, the British army has taken part alongside the US armed forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The British army for centuries has been a loyal supporter of the crown and government policy.

Soldiers arrested

Recent happenings have disturbed the British government and points to a serious malady in the ranks.

This can be alarming, both for the UK and the USA. Four Army soldiers have been detained for questioning in the UK and in addition, a soldier from Cyprus was picked up for being members of the National Action Group a Neo Nazi group with Extreme Right Wing views.

This group was banned by the British government in 2016 as the government felt their policies and objectives were against the constitution. The Home Secretary, Ms. Rudd while banning the national front had told Parliament that the National Action group is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organization which glorifies violence. She accused the organization of supporting policies that are akin to Nazi philosophy.

National Action Group

The four soldiers were picked up and interrogated by the police.A police spokesperson said the men arrested on Tuesday were a 22 year old from Birmingham, a 32-year-old from Powys, a 24-year-old from Ipswich and a 24-year-old from Birmingham. Another 25- year old was detained by the Military Police in Cyprus and has been brought to England.

The men are charged with the conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and also for being members of the National Action Group. The soldiers have been under surveillance for the past year and their actions had been monitored. Three of the arrested are serving British army soldiers and one of them was a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers(REME).

Latest reports indicate that two of the suspects have been released and the police have been given more time to question the others.

The soldiers have been under surveillance for the past year and their actions had been monitored. Three of the arrested are serving British army soldiers and one of them was a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers(REME). Latest reports indicate that two of the suspects have been released and the police have been given more time to question the others.

Matter of worry

The group is an extremist organization whose motto is "death to traitors, freedom for Britain". Police have arrested 22 members of this banned group this year. The group has similar policies to the extreme right wing agitators in the USA and their emergence in Britain is a matter of concern for the government. The fact that this ideology has infiltrated into the army is a matter of worry.