Two men and a teenage boy accused of carrying on being members of banned right-wing group National Action by rebranding it “Triple K Mafia” have appeared in court.
Daniel Ward, 28, Garry Jack, 22, and the 17-year-old were accused of being members for nine months after it became the first extremist right-wing group to be proscribed by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
It is alleged they continued National Action but under the different name and sent encrypted messages to other members using a “Telegram” and “Signal Messenger” mobile apps.
Ward and Jack, both of Birmingham, West Midlands, spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth, addresses and nationalities at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Ward described himself as “white British”, while Jack and the youth, who cannot be named because of his age, said they were “English” during the hearing.
The teenager sat outside the dock next to his father during the hearing and was bailed to appear at the Old Bailey on October 12.
Ward and Jack wore grey prison tracksuits in the dock before being remanded in custody.
All three are accused of being members of the group between December 17 2016 and September 5 last year.
Prosecutor Kiernan Cunningham said: “These three gentlemen are accused of being members of National Action.
“National Action was proscribed by the then Home Secretary Amber Rudd. It was the first extremist right wing organisation to be banned as a terrorist organisation.
“These gentlemen and others continued with that membership of that organisation albeit under a different name. The name that features throughout is Triple K Mafia.
“The prosecution will say that was a rebranding of the same organisation.
“The prosecution will say examination of media devices recovered in earlier prosecutions show these gentlemen continued with membership of that organisation and indeed sought new ways to progress that organisation’s objectives.”
All three are due to appear alongside two co-defendants Mark Jones and Alice Cutter at the Old Bailey.
District Judge Kenneth Grant released the youth under conditional bail that he lives with his parents, has a night time curfew of 8pm to 7am curfew and surrenders his passport.
He was also banned from using Telegram, Signal Messenger or any other encrypted messenger applications and not delete his internet history or emails
They are jointly charged with being members of National Action for nine months after it became the first extremist right-wing group to be proscribed by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
The trio will appear at the Old Bailey after being accused of being members of the group between December 17 2016 and September 5 last year/
