LONDON

A neo-Nazi group in the UK was uncovered using a fitness club to train people in weapons and planning a "race war" while idolizing notorious figures such as Adolf Hitler, according to an independent British media outlet's investigative report broadcast on Wednesday.

The group, named "Active Club England," found recruiting members through extreme fitness and fraternity before providing them with weapons training and idolizing notorious figures such as Adolf Hitler, according to an undercover investigation by ITV News.

Following a blueprint established by neo-Nazi networks in the US and Europe, over 100 people have joined, with one branch beginning biweekly training sessions at a park in Vauxhall, south London, near MI6 headquarters.

It also reportedly becomes one of the UK's largest white supremacist groups, with at least eight branches across the country.

The report also shows how a recruitment campaign in the aftermath of last year's summer riots attracted an influx of new members.

A convicted violent criminal, previously jailed for a knife attack in a supermarket, is among the latest recruits of the group, said ITV News, adding that the 28-year-old, who calls himself “Glenn” but has been identified as Jay Barlow, joined in December, weeks after he was sentenced for separate offenses.

In its undercover investigation, the channel secretly filmed 12 meetings between October 2024 and February 2025 and filmed more than 100 hours.

'These are people preparing to commit acts of violence'

Those footages show a change in language from offensive "jokes" about Adolf Hitler to discussions about the use of weapons and open declarations about "taking power whenever the opportunity arises."

The group is making plans to rent a permanent indoor space in London to "practice knife defense without getting arrested," while two of its members have discussed pooling resources to buy ten acres of land for the group.

Meanwhile, the group claims it is "peaceful and legal," while Neil Basu, former head of UK counterterrorism policing, said that it's clear "these are people preparing to commit acts of violence."

One member talked of printing 3D firearms, and another said he has got about "a grand's worth of throwing knives and axes."

In the group, some members of Active Club England were seen dressed in threatening Halloween masks to hide their identities while getting the group together to pose with an England flag.

Hooded men are seen strolling through parks in a pack before training to fit the club's strict fitness standards.

Indoor space to 'practice knife defense'

Clips also show the mystery leader conducting the telephone interview—lasting half an hour—before allowing the undercover reporter to join the group.

The members were told to buy another phone to communicate with others over the encrypted messaging app Threema and to keep it separate from their real identities.

New members were expected to meet fitness standards within six months that were circulated by the group; otherwise, they face ejection from the group.

Most sessions involved an hour of high-intensity training where members were expected to meet these strict fitness targets, and some involved boxing sessions.

"Fitness and robustness of mind, body, and spirit are not just expectations but core pillars of our worldview," according to the guidelines circulated on Telegram.

The footage revealed many racist conversations among members.

They also have plans to hire a permanent indoor space in London to "practice​​​​​​​ knife defense without getting arrested."