Nine arrests after neo-Nazis celebrate Hitler's birthday

NINE people have been arrested after a dawn raid in Rochdale.

- BY JOHN SCHEERHOUT, EMILY CARUBIA

It comes after a group of neo-Nazis were caught celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday in a pub in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

A disturbing haul of replica guns as well as a Nazi-era gas canister were uncovered during the raids, which were carried out shortly after 5am on Wednesday, May 7, in Rochdale, Southport, Oldham, Bolton and Urmston.

A team of officers from Greater Manchester Police, forensic investigators and a bomb squad descended on a property in Bolton.

During a search of the address, officers seized items including what appears to be an imitation AK47 rifle, a suspected grenade, a crossbow, a series of fake handguns as well as a number of swords, one decorated with a Swastika.

Officers also found a ‘Zyklon’ gas canister.

Zyklon gas was used by the Nazis in the mass killing of Jews in the Second World War.

GMP stressed the gas canister was not viable and that the suspected grenade had been ‘declared safe’ by Army bomb disposal officers.

The force said so far all the guns analysed were imitation or replica, but a spokeswoman said they could not rule out that others may be found to be in working order. Tests are continuing.

GMP confirmed it had been ‘in contact’ with colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) who have ‘offered advice on some of the materials which have been seized’