A far-right group, Active Club England, trained for violence and a race war in London parks, aiming for power.
This group, calling itself Active Club England, pretends to be an athletic club. They recruit members based on extreme fitness, with fraternity as a core focus. Members view Adolf Hitler as a hero, believing in white supremacy and desiring power.
The group has grown since the 2024 riots, now numbering around 100 people across at least eight branches. One branch trains in Vauxhall, London, every two weeks. Robert Rundo, an American far-right activist, first promoted it before fleeing the US, facing charges for rioting and conspiracy to violence.
Jay Barlow recently joined the group after previously committing violent crimes. He went to jail for knife possession and racially aggravated harassment. Barlow joined in December, weeks after his sentencing which included attending “thinking skills” classes.
ITV News secretly filmed twelve meetings in a Vauxhall park. During these meetings, members talked about using weapons and “taking power” “whenever opportunity arises”. The group wanted to rent space to practice knife defense, aiming to avoid arrest in the process.
Neil Basu, former leader of UK counterterror policing, stated that this group is actively planning violence. During meetings, they undergo intense training to meet fitness goals and “prepare [them] for future violence.” One member expressed he “enjoys” violence against Black people.
The group discusses racist and xenophobic views. Members share opinions and discuss their own weapons, as well as past violent acts. One member boasted of biting someone, while another spoke of “bottling” someone else. One individual said he owned many throwing knives, axes, and bows.
Potential members face vetting before training, after which grants Telegram access. “Lance,” the self-proclaimed leader, asks about religion, ethnicity, fitness, and views. Many members use separate phones for communication and hardly use their real names.
After a boxing session, people began raising their arms resembling a Nazi salute, calling it a “Roman salute.” Lance wanted “no Romans,” however. The group is attempting to manage its public image, telling members not to break the law.
Basu explained they carefully coach members “how to stay the right side of the law.” He called them a “successor” to National Action, a banned far-right group that celebrated MP Jo Cox’s murder. Basu noted the group’s severe racism, white supremacy, and antisemitism.
He believes they will attract someone without qualms about these ideologies. He added that vulnerable young men seek a cause, and the group offers that cause. Active Club described themselves as dedicated to fraternity, physical fitness, self-improvement, being “unapologetically for the English people,” and standing for cultural rebirth.