Neo-Nazi says there is a ‘sturdy ethical argument’ for killing police
A neo-Nazi terrorist who was in Southport when violence erupted on Tuesday night has suggested far-Right thugs could ‘target random police officers’.
Matthew Hankinson said there is a ‘strong moral argument’ for killing police officers in a series of chilling posts shared after more than 100 people were arrested in Westminster last week.
Hankinson was jailed for six years in 2018 for being a member of terrorist group National Action, which was proscribed by the Home Office over its support for the murderer of MP Jo Cox.
In other posts on X, Hankinson said ‘Hitler was right’ and suggested he was supportive of a student who was jailed in March over a plot to kill 50 people in bomb attacks.
Hankinson also called Mrs Cox a ‘subversive traitor’ in a response to a post from her husband Brendan, and repeated the phrase ‘Death to traitors, freedom for Britain’ – a slogan used by the Labour MP’s murderer when asked to give his name in court.
In a series of chilling posts shared after arrests in Westminster last week, Matthew Hankinson (pictured) said there is a ‘strong moral argument’ for killing police officers
Hankinson wrote that ‘such injustice’ may lead to a situation where ‘English people target random police officers’
It is understood Hankinson has not been arrested since the riots in Southport (pictured on July 30)
In a post shared on X, Hankinson asked ‘But what if people decide the law is but a scrap of paper used to enforce illegitimate power?’
Responding to footage of protesters being arrested following violent scenes in Westminster on Wednesday night, Hankinson said: ‘There is already a strong moral argument for killing corrupt police officers… what if people decide the law is but a scrap of paper used to enforce illigitimate [sic] power?’
In another post he added: ‘Such injustice may lead to a situation where oppressed English people think ‘pick one out’ and target random police officers.’ The Mail has shared the posts with Merseyside Police and the Home Office.
Last night Hankinson stood by his posts, telling the Mail: ‘I’m taking part in public discourse as is my right, I don’t think violence will achieve anything, but police oppression may lead to more violence, which I think is a legitimate concern.’
Hankinson, from Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, shared footage of a burning police van on Tuesday while ‘documenting live from Southport’.
He said he was among people ‘showing solidarity in the face of foreign terror’ and taking ‘vengence [sic] into their own hands’.
He also shared far-Right conspiracy theories such as the ‘Great Replacement’ and finished a post with ‘#14W’ – often used as a rallying cry for white supremacists.
Riots and outbreaks of violence have taken place in several cities across the UK since Friday, from Sunderland to Tamworth
Pictured: Riot police clash with protesters outside a Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham
It is understood Hankinson has not been arrested since the riots in Southport. He said: ‘I went with the intention of paying respects as a concerned person at the vigil for the murdered children by an African.
‘What I saw happening I decided to document, to show a true reflection of what was occurring.’
Other prominent far-Right activists were present at the protest in Southport and involved in promoting it, including those from a group called Patriotic Alternative.
A number of members of National Action – which Hankinson belonged to – have gone to prison, including Jack Renshaw, who was jailed for life in 2019 for plotting to kill former Labour MP Rosie Cooper.
According to anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate, Hankinson, who was released from prison in 2023, served his full sentence as he refused to co-operate with rehabilitation services.
Merseyside Police said it could not comment on the disorder in Southport due to active investigations. The Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases.
