Five armed Britons who were touring the Channel coast in a 'battle bus' and allegedly planning attacks on migrants in France have been fined £2,500 and barred from parts of the country.
uncertain
who → tour → country
The far-Right activists, aged between 30 and 46, were also ordered to pay £418 each to migrant charities.
asserted
activists → order → charities
They had been driving across the Channel coast in a minibus with reinforced windows nicknamed the 'battle bus'.
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They → drive → windows
They were arrested at Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk, on Thursday and had their weapons confiscated.
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weapons → arrest → Thursday
The armed 'ultra-Right' activists were found with tear gas and pepper-spray canisters and a baton, according to prosecutors, which are illegal to carry under French law.
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which → find → law
They had allegedly livestreamed themselves intimidating migrants who were trying to reach Britain on small boats.
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who → livestreame → boats
The far-Right activists, aged between 30 and 46, were also ordered to pay £418 each to migrant charities.
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activists → age → charities
Pictured: One of the Britons is arrested by French police
A group of British nationals are seen being arrested during a French police operation near a Decathlon store in Dunkirk, northern France
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group → picture → Dunkirk
Despite being issued fines, the Britons could have faced prison time if they were charged and convicted of 'taking part in a group formed to prepare violence against people' and 'transporting classified weapons without a legitimate reason', The Times reports.
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Times → issue → reason
They could also have received fines of €15,000 (£12,500).
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They → receive → 15,000
But they could still face custodial sentences as the weapons offences could be punished by up to two years in jail – on top of a €30,000 (£25,000) fine if the alleged crimes were committed by two or more people acting together.
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crimes → face → people
AFP reports that the Britons were arrested while broadcasting live footage online, according to the local prefecture, and were carrying four tear gas bombs.
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Britons → report → bombs
They were held for 'taking part in a group formed to prepare violence against people' and for carrying classified weapons without a legitimate reason, the statement added.
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statement → hold → reason
After being detained they were held in custody while arrangements were made for their expulsion from France.
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arrangements → detain → France
On Sunday, they were expelled and banned from entering the region for six months, French authorities said.
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authorities → expel → months
An aid group had accused them of violence against undocumented migrants, but investigations failed to establish evidence of violent offences, prosecutor Charlotte Huet said in a statement Sunday.
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Huet → accuse → statement
A judge banned them from the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments for six months and ordered them to pay the fines.
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judge → ban → fines
Pictured: The hand-cuffed activists are led into a French police van at the side of the road
The armed 'ultra-Right' activists were found with tear gas and pepper-spray canisters and a baton, according to prosecutors
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activists → picture → prosecutors
All five were expelled from French territory on Sunday,' an official in the Hauts-de-France and Nord regional prefecture told AFP.
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official → expel → AFP
In January, two Britons suspected of having come to France to take part in a banned anti-migrant action in the Channel port of Calais were arrested and deported.
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Britons → suspect → Calais
Ten other British far-Right activists had been banned from French territory in mid-January after being accused of violence in previous months against migrants on the French coast.
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activists → ban → coast
Sometimes violent anti-migrant protests have occurred across the Channel in England, as would-be asylum-seekers continue to attempt to make the perilous crossing from France.
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seekers → occur → France
The issue of migrants has become a contentious topic in both countries, in Britain leading to a surge in support for the far-Right, anti-migrant Reform UK party.
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issue → become → party
The Aporia
