Nine members of a far-right British Movement branch were arrested following a secret Adolf Hitler birthday celebration at an Oldham pub, prompting weapons seizures in related raids. The incident highlights a disturbing rise in extremist gatherings and the ongoing challenge for UK and European authorities to tackle neo-Nazi activities.
Celebration of Hate: Arrests Follow Far-Right Gathering in Oldham
In a disturbing incident that raises vital questions about public safety and the resurgence of extremist ideologies, nine individuals were arrested following a celebration of Adolf Hitler’s birthday at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Oldham. The gathering, which occurred on April 23, was organised by members of the north-west branch of the far-right British Movement. This event reportedly took place without the pub staff’s prior knowledge, which only came to light when the venue contacted police the following day.
Photos from the event featured members of the group enjoying a celebratory cake adorned with swastika icing and holding Nazi memorabilia, including a Swastika flag and SS bolts. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker of Greater Manchester Police stated that public safety remained a top priority. The police have emphasized their readiness to act on any concerns regarding potential threats. “We must take action when concerns are raised, and where weapons are suspected, to ensure people are free to live without fear of intimidation or harm,” Parker stated during a recent press briefing.
In the wake of the arrests, law enforcement conducted raids across multiple locations including Rochdale, Bolton, and Southport. These operations resulted in the confiscation of a variety of weapons, including swords, imitation firearms, a crossbow, and what appeared to be a grenade—subsequently declared safe by explosive ordnance disposal teams. The incident sheds light on a troubling pattern of far-right extremism not only seen in the UK but echoing across Europe.
Recent events around Hitler’s birthday have underscored the global nature of this issue. In Poland, authorities detained two men for orchestrating a concert that celebrated Hitler’s legacy, demonstrating a broader European challenge in monitoring and curbing the influence of neo-Nazi groups. Similarly, earlier this year, in Austria, a group was arrested for laying white roses at Hitler’s birthplace while displaying Nazi symbols, highlighting the ongoing battle against hate speech and extremist ideologies across the continent.
Furthermore, the last week of April brought reports from the United States, where stickers bearing Hitler’s image were found in public spaces, and the perpetrator was charged for vandalism. These instances point to a rising tide of symbolism associated with hate groups, requiring continued vigilance from communities and law enforcement alike.
On a wider scale, discussions about the persistent celebration of Hitler’s birthday have revealed a disturbing trend: neo-Nazis and white supremacists worldwide are increasingly using social media platforms to coordinate their activities and spread their ideologies. Recent online gatherings showcased individuals baking cakes emblazoned with swastikas and proclaiming their dedication to Hitler’s legacy, signalling a troubling acceptance of extremist rhetoric.
The incidents from Oldham to Poland, Austria, and beyond expose a frightening reality of a Europe grappling with a resurgence of far-right ideologies. As authorities confront these challenges, the need for proactive measures to combat hate and safeguard public spaces becomes ever more pressing. The community, as well as law enforcement, is compelled to remain vigilant, recognising that the shadow of extremism persists and must be actively opposed to ensure a safe and inclusive society for all.
Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [[1]](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/adolf-hitler-birthday-far-right-oldham-british-movement-b2747111.html), [[2]](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/adolf-hitler-birthday-far-right-oldham-british-movement-b2747111.html)
- Paragraph 2 – [[1]](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/adolf-hitler-birthday-far-right-oldham-british-movement-b2747111.html), [[2]](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/adolf-hitler-birthday-far-right-oldham-british-movement-b2747111.html)
- Paragraph 3 – [[3]](https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-polish-men-detained-for-hitler-birthday-concert/), [[5]](https://apnews.com/article/austria-hitler-birthplace-birthday-braunau-nazi-germans-9175db2ddee362ea1d46b7b03c046666)
- Paragraph 4 – [[4]](https://apnews.com/article/ma-state-wire-arrests-c6dbb87fc61c996d9e3134a5e9bdd008), [[6]](https://www.memri.org/dttm/hitlers-birthday-celebrated-social-media-neo-nazis-and-white-supremacists-dozens-countries)
- Paragraph 5 – [[7]](https://www.memri.org/dttm/neo-nazis-around-world-celebrate-adolf-hitlers-birthday-april-20-bake-cakes-share-hitler-quotes), [[4]](https://apnews.com/article/ma-state-wire-arrests-c6dbb87fc61c996d9e3134a5e9bdd008)
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/adolf-hitler-birthday-far-right-oldham-british-movement-b2747111.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/adolf-hitler-birthday-far-right-oldham-british-movement-b2747111.html – Nine individuals were arrested after members of the far-right British Movement celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Oldham on April 23, 2025. The group posted images online of themselves with Nazi memorabilia, including a swastika cake. The pub was unaware of the event and reported it to the police the following day. Greater Manchester Police conducted raids across multiple locations, seizing weapons such as swords, imitation firearms, a crossbow, and a suspected grenade. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker emphasized the importance of public safety and urged vigilance.
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-polish-men-detained-for-hitler-birthday-concert/ – Two Polish men were detained for organizing a concert celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday. The event, which took place in Poland, was part of a series of neo-Nazi activities marking the anniversary of Hitler’s birth. The authorities acted swiftly to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and to uphold public order. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges posed by far-right groups in Europe and the need for continued vigilance and enforcement of laws against hate speech and symbols.
- https://apnews.com/article/ma-state-wire-arrests-c6dbb87fc61c996d9e3134a5e9bdd008 – In Bristol, Rhode Island, a 26-year-old man named Chase Gilroy was arrested in connection with the posting of stickers bearing an image of Adolf Hitler. The stickers, which also included the phrase ‘white boy summer,’ were found in town on April 24. Gilroy turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued. He was released on personal recognizance on charges of vandalism and conspiracy to commit vandalism. The incident underscores the persistence of hate symbols in public spaces and the importance of community vigilance.
- https://apnews.com/article/austria-hitler-birthplace-birthday-braunau-nazi-germans-9175db2ddee362ea1d46b7b03c046666 – Four Germans were arrested in Austria for commemorating Adolf Hitler’s birthday by laying white roses at his birthplace in Braunau am Inn. The group, consisting of two sisters and their partners, posed for photos, with one woman giving a Hitler salute. Police discovered Nazi-themed messages and images on their phones. The incident occurred on April 20, 2024, and the individuals were reported to prosecutors for violating Austrian laws that ban Nazi symbols. The event highlights ongoing efforts to prevent neo-Nazi activities in Europe.
- https://www.memri.org/dttm/hitlers-birthday-celebrated-social-media-neo-nazis-and-white-supremacists-dozens-countries – On April 20, 2023, numerous neo-Nazis and white supremacists from countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, Germany, and others celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday on social media platforms like Telegram and Gab. They shared photos, graphics, videos, and images of cakes decorated with swastikas. Some extremists declared their intent to ‘finish what [Hitler] started’ and ‘strive to finish what [Hitler] started.’ This global trend underscores the persistent presence of far-right ideologies and the need for continued monitoring and countermeasures.
- https://www.memri.org/dttm/neo-nazis-around-world-celebrate-adolf-hitlers-birthday-april-20-bake-cakes-share-hitler-quotes – On April 20, 2024, neo-Nazis from countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, France, Romania, the United States, and Canada celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Many baked cakes and held special events to mark the occasion. They also spread quotes from Hitler’s manifesto, Mein Kampf, to promote the emergence of a new Hitlerian leader and to incite fascist revolution. This global celebration highlights the ongoing challenges posed by neo-Nazi groups and the importance of international cooperation in combating hate ideologies.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The event described occurred recently on April 23, with references to contemporaneous police statements and raids, indicating the narrative is current. The coverage includes parallel recent incidents in Europe and the US from the same timeframe, supporting high topical relevance and freshness. No indications of recycled or outdated news were found.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker was found in the press briefing directly related to the event. There is no indication the quote is recycled from earlier reports. The quote aligns with standard law enforcement public safety statements, and appears original to this context, increasing credibility but limiting traceability to earlier sources.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet known for reliability in crime and public safety reporting. Although not as prestigious as top-tier global agencies, it generally maintains editorial standards consistent with trustworthy journalism.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The account of far-right extremist activity and arrests in Oldham aligns with known patterns of fringe group behaviour and reported incidents elsewhere in Europe and the US, enhancing plausibility. The details about weapons confiscated and cross-national parallels are credible. The story’s claims are verifiable through police statements and related news.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents a recent and well-documented account of far-right extremist activity with direct law enforcement quotes and detailed reporting consistent with similar events internationally. The originating outlet is credible, the quotes appear authentic and original, and the claims are plausible and timely. No signs of outdated or recycled content were detected.
