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Britain First leader Paul Golding arrested in Belfast
Britain First's leader and deputy charged by police in Belfast
(about 3 hours later)
The leader of Britain First – the far-right group which gained international notoriety when it was retweeted by Donald Trump – has been arrested in Northern Ireland in connection with speeches made at a rally in Belfast.
The leader and deputy leader of Britain First – the far-right group which gained international notoriety when it was retweeted by Donald Trump – have been charged by police in Northern Ireland in connection with alleged conduct in Belfast.
Paul Golding, 35, was arrested shortly after arriving at Belfast magistrates court. He was accompanying his deputy, Jayda Fransen, 31, to her first appearance after being charged with “using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour” at the same rally.
Paul Golding, 35, is expected to appear in court on 10 January after he was charged “with using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour” following speeches at a Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally in Belfast on 6 August.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: “Detectives investigating speeches made at the Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally on Sunday 6 August this year have arrested a 35-year-old man today, Thursday 14 December, in the Belfast area. He has been taken to Musgrave PSNI station for interview. There are no further details at this stage.”
His deputy, Jayda Fransen, 31, charged on Thursday with the same offence, is expected to appear in court on 15 December, in connection with an incident in Belfast on 13 December.
I’m at Belfast Mags Court for The Guardian. Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen due to appear at some point after 10.30am...charged with “using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour" in connection with anti-Islam speech in August. pic.twitter.com/IIwdlKRweN
Golding was arrested on Thursday morning after he accompanied Fransen to her first appearance at court in Belfast, where she was facing two charges around a speech she made in Belfast to around 50 people outside Belfast City Hall on 6 August.
Fransen, from Penge in south-east London, is facing charges relating to a speech she delivered at the rally, attended by around 50 people, outside Belfast City Hall. Fransen denies the charges.
The judge, Fiona Bagnall, considered police and prosecution bail requests to limit Fransen’s involvement in any further rallies and her use of social media.
The judge, Fiona Bagnall, considered police bail requests to limit Fransen’s involvement in any further rallies and her use of social media. Bagnall did not limit Fransen’s social media activity, but said was not to be within 500 metres of any demonstration or parade in Northern Ireland.
Bagnall did not limit Fransen’s social media activity, but said she was not to be within 500 metres of any demonstration or parade in Northern Ireland.
Fransen was released on bail and the case will go before the court again on 9 January.
Fransen’s lawyer told the court that she intended to plead not guilty to two charges relating to behaviour intended to or likely to stir up hatred.
A PSNI statement said a report regarding a video posted on social media relating to a speech made in Belfast on Tuesday 12 December had been received and “enquiries are ongoing”.
Her case relating to the August speech is expected before the court again on 9 January.
After court proceedings ended on Thursday Fransen was arrested in connection with an incident in Belfast on Wednesday.
A police spokeswoman also said “enquiries are ongoing” into a report received regarding a video, featuring Fransen, which was posted on social media from Belfast on 12 December.
A PSNI statement said: “Detectives investigating an incident at a peace wall in Belfast on Wednesday 14 December, have arrested a 31-year-old woman in the Belfast area today. She has been taken to Musgrave PSNI Station for interview. There are no further details at this stage.”
A diplomatic row erupted between the UK and the US earlier this month after the US president, Donald Trump, retweeted videos posted on Twitter by Fransen. The UK prime minister, Theresa May, criticised Trump over sharing the far-right group’s propaganda. “I am very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do,” she said at the time.
A diplomatic row erupted between the UK and the US earlier this month after the US president, Donald Trump, retweeted videos posted on Twitter by Fransen. The UK prime minister, Theresa May, criticised Trump over sharing the far-right group’s propaganda.
“I am very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do,” she said at the time.
