Far right extremist arrested in Czechia for membership of neo Nazi group founded by Poulton musician

A far right extremist has been arrested after eight months on the run for their membership of a neo Nazi group set up by a Poulton musician. By Simon Drury.

Fifty three-year-old Sven Liebich was arrested in the Czech Republic earlier this month. Now known as Marla-Svenja Liebich, the hate activist skipped an 18-month sentence for hate crimes last July. The extremist used a clause in Germany‘s Self-Determination Act to register as a woman ahead of serving his prison sentence.

He is a high ranking member of the German arm of the Blood and Honour organisation - a right wing movement which has its roots in the Fylde coast. Blood and Honour was established in 1987 by Ian Stuart Donaldson and had links with extremist racist groups like Combat 18.

Donaldson initially set up the organisation to promote 'white power' racist music released by his band Skrewdriver which he formed in his home town of Poulton in the mid to late ‘70s. The group began playing covers of Rolling Stones songs before becoming part of the punk movement in 1976.

Donaldson moved the band to London where they had some success as a straight ahead punk outfit. When the band split he moved back to Poulton to work in a number of jobs locally.

He became involved in the far right National Front and reformed Skrewdriver as a 'white power' band performing their racist setlist of songs all across Europe, although, outside of private right wing gigs, the group were banned from most venues in the UK.

He often cited setting up Blood and Honour because he did not believe the National Front was sufficiently racist. Its name is taken from a Nazi slogan that was used by the Hitler Youth. Donaldson died in a Derbyshire car crash in September 1993, aged 36, but Blood and Honour has continued to operate ever since.

However, last year the organisation was dealt a blow when the UK government froze its assets, linking Blood and Honour with far right terrorism. Keir Starmer said he suspected the group "of being involved in terrorist activities". It is now a criminal offence to offer the group funding or financial services.

“The designation of Blood and Honour is a clear signal that the UK works proactively to stop terrorist financing and will take action against any who try to exploit the UK financial system for this activity,” a government spokesman said.

A spokesman for anti-fascist group Searchlight added: "Blood and Honour was formed by Donaldson, a prominent Nazi and singer in the neo Nazi band Skrewdriver and has been at the forefront off the white power music scene.

"It also supported underground neo Nazi terror cells and has been banned in Germany since 2000. Liebich emerged as a street level propagandist and provocateur. He first gained prominence in the 1990s as part of Blood and Honour's Eastern German chapter.

"Donaldson has become a hero to racist thugs world wide and his organisation is banned in several countries for its links to terrorism. Memorial events in his name are notorious magnets for violence and internal feuds between rival factions."