Right wing extremist in neo-Nazi terror group set up by Poulton musician fighting extradition to Germany

A right wing extremist arrested for their membership of a neo Nazi terror group set up by a Poulton musician is fighting extradition to Germany.

Fifty-three-year-old Marla-Svenja Liebich is currently in prison in Czechia - the former Czech Republic - after skipping an 18-month sentence for hate crimes last July. Liebich - who changed their name to Marla-Svenja Liebich and now identifies as a woman - is a high-ranking member of Blood and Honour, a group banned in Germany.

They used a clause in Germany's Self-Determination Act to register as female in a bid to serve his time in a women's prison. Liebich is a high ranking member of the German arm of the Blood and Honour group - a right wing movement with its roots on the Fylde coast.

‘White power music’

The group was established in 1987 by Ian Stuart Donaldson and had links with extremist groups like Combat 18. Donaldson originally 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 found limited success as a straight ahead punk outfit. When the band split he moved back to Poulton and worked as a civil servant.

He became involved with the far right National Front (NF) and reformed Skrewdriver as a 'white power' band performing their racist setlist of songs across Europe although, outside of private right wing groups and neo Nazi festivals, the group were banned from most venues in the UK.

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

‘Terrorist activities’

Last year, Blood and Honour was dealt a blow when the UK Government froze its assets, linking Blood and Honour with far right domestic terrorism. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he suspected the organisation of "being involved in terrorist activities". In the UK, it is now a criminal offence to offer the group funding or financial services.

Meanwhile, this week, Liebich has filed a complaint and a motion for bias in the courts in Czechia in an attempt to prevent extradition to his native Germany. The Higher Regional Court in Prague must now decide on both submissions. A week ago, the district court in Pilsen had ruled that Liebich should be sent to Germany.

Liebich said he did not want to return to Germany, for fear of dying in a German men's prison. The Blood and Honour leader was arrested in April after a Europe-wide hunt. He was found in the Czech town of Krasna, near the German border, and has been in custody ever since, held in a men's prison.

If his appeals are rejected next week, he could be immediately extradited.

‘Notorious magnets for violence and internal feuds between rival factions.’

A UK government spokesperson said: "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 or this activity."

Anti-fascist group Searchlight said Donaldson had become a far right martyr since his death.

"Blood and Honour was formed by Donaldson, a prominent Nazi and singer in the neo Nazi band Skrewdriver and has been at the forefront of the white power music scene. It 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 worldwide 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."