Britain has used counter-terrorism laws to freeze the assets of the neo-Nazi group Blood and Honour, marking the first time the UK has applied such sanctions to a far-right organization.
The UK’s finance ministry cited “reasonable grounds” for suspecting that Blood and Honour was involved in promoting terrorism, recruiting for extremist activities, and providing financial support for terror groups.
As part of the sanctions, all assets and resources linked to Blood and Honour and its affiliate, the violent group Combat 18, are now frozen in the UK. British individuals and entities are prohibited from engaging in any financial transactions with these groups without a government license.
The ministry emphasized that the move sends a clear message that the UK is committed to combatting terrorist financing and preventing extremist groups from exploiting the British financial system.
Blood and Honour, which originated in England in 1987 within the skinhead music scene, was founded by Ian Stuart Donaldson. Since its creation, it has expanded its reach across Europe, Russia, North America, and Australia.
The group has had a controversial and violent legacy, with Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik referring to himself as a “foot soldier” for the movement during his 2011 trial.
Canada listed Blood and Honour and Combat 18 as terrorist organizations in 2019, and several European nations have banned both groups.
