News / Politics

Australia set to ban UK-based far-right terrorist group

Tuesday, 02 March 2021 5:26 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 02 March 2021 5:37 PM ]

The Sonnenkrieg Division is the UK chapter of the Atomwaffen Division (pictured)

The Australian government is planning to formally ban the UK-based far-right extremist group the Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD).

Based on a recommendation from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, has written to Opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, and state and territory leaders proposing to proscribe the neo-Nazi group as a “terrorist organization”.

This is the first time a far-right organization has been banned in Australia.

Although the far-right group has already been banned in the UK, it is known as the United Kingdom branch of the US-based terrorist network of Atomwaffen Division.

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The SKD group which is known to have trained in firearms and hand-to-hand combat, surfaced in December 2018, when it called for Prince Harry‘s assassination on the grounds that he is a so-called “race traitor” for marrying Meghan Markle.

Meanwhile, Greg Barton, one of Australia’s leading scholars of terrorism and countering violent extremism, asserted that the move to proscribe the group in Australia marked a “significant” step which bolsters the government’s ability to contain the threat posed by right-wing extremism.

He added that the government’s decision is not only a “symbolic move” but also a “very practical move in empowering law enforcement to be able to take action before somebody inspires violence”.

Barton believed that Sonnenkrieg Division were the “first cab off the rank” to be banned and hoped that more right-wing groups will follow suit.

Raising concern over the activities of the group, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said SKD had called for terrorist acts and inspired UK-based extremists using online propaganda and in addition it has “the potential to inspire Australia-based extremists” as well.

Proscribing the SKD group as a “terrorist organization” comes amid growing concern over the extremist threat posed by right-wing groups and individuals in Australia and the UK.