Nine people have been arrested after a group celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday with swastika flags and a cake in a north-west pub. 

Police raided a string of properties after the west branch of racist fringe group British Movement assembled at the Duke of Edinburgh in Royston, Greater Manchester on April 26. 

A group of far right obsessives had allegedly unfurled flags displaying Nazi symbols and even tucked into a black, red and white birthday cake emblazoned with a swastika. 

A social media post later boasted that the pub had been filled with the ‘warm laughter of comrades’ as they marked ‘the 136th Birthday of Uncle A’. 

The nine were arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of Section 18 Public Order Act offences. 

Officers then raided properties in Rochdale, Bolton, Trafford, Stockport and Southport and found imitation firearms, swords and a crossbow as well as Nazi memorabilia and materials.

Greater Manchester Police even found a grenade in a Bolton home – which necessitated a call-out from bomb disposal experts who declared it safe. 

They were arrested on Wednesday morning on suspicion of Section 18 Public Order Act offences

The offence includes displaying written material that is threatening, abusive or insulting, intended to stir up racial hatred, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP)

The group later boasted online that the ‘dimly lit interior of the Oldham boozer’ was ‘filled with the warm laughter of comrades old and new’ as they celebrated Hitler’s birthday

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On Wednesday night police were continuing to search the properties and officers have been working with Counter Terrorism Policing North West, which offered advice on the seized items.  

The raid came after the get-together at the pub last month.

Pub staff said they were caught unawares and the group ‘definitely won’t be coming in here again’.

A post on the group’s Telegram feed after the the party read: ‘On a gorgeous sunny afternoon in Greater Manchester, a platoon of Northwest British Movement met up to celebrate the 136th Birthday of Uncle A.

‘It certainly didn’t take long for the dimly lit interior of the Oldham boozer to be filled with the warm laughter of comrades old and new.

‘Tables were filled with a plethora of drinks: frosty pints of beer, fruity cocktails, schooners, and birthday cake!

‘As the evening wore on more laughter and lively conversation echoed around the pub, with everyone telling stories and sharing some of their own dreams and aspirations, each person adding to the tapestry of hopes for the future.

‘They reminisced about the good times while planning their future BM escapades, ensuring that this celebration was just one of many more to come.’

The cake iced with a swastika which the neo-Nazi group brought with them to celebrate the anniversary of Hitler’s birth

Police investigating neo-Nazis who were caught celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday in an Oldham pub carried out a series of dramatic dawn raids across the north west

Members of the racist British Movement assembled at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Oldham displaying a flag emblazoned with a swastika, SS bolts and the Iron Cross, later sharing photographs digitally altered to feature Adolf Hitler

The landlord and landlady of the Duke of Edinburgh in Royton, Oldham said the neo-Nazi group had been ‘sneaky’, hiding their shocking memorabilia from pub staff, and insisted they ‘definitely won’t be coming in here again’

Footage of the shocking gathering of neo-Nazis celebrating the anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s birth shows the men unfurling swastika flags and posing for pictures before quickly hiding them away

The group – one man wearing a German national team football shirt with ‘Fuhrer 44’ printed on the back – also posed with the flag of the fringe neo-Nazi British Movement

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: ‘It’s important that all avenues are explored to establish the extent of the criminal offences which have been committed, and whilst our investigation is still in its early stages, we do not believe there to be a risk to the wider public.

‘This group clearly has a deep fascination with ideas that we know are unsettling for communities across Greater Manchester.

‘We must take action when concerns are raised, and where weapons are suspected, to ensure people are free to live without fear of intimidation or harm. 

‘Public safety is at the forefront of our investigation, and as always, we ask that you remain vigilant, and if you have any information or concerns, then to contact us.’