Arrests after BNP documentary

Five men have been arrested as part of an investigation into a BBC documentary that showed BNP members bragging about race-hate crimes.

The men are a 23-year-old from Bradford, arrested in connection with racially aggravated public order offences, a 35-year-old Keighley man, who has been arrested in connection with conspiracy to commit damage, and a 51-year-old Bradford man who has been arrested in connection with racially aggravated harassment.

Another man , aged 40, from Keighley, was arrested shortly afterwards in connection with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

Police later confirmed a fifth man - a 45-year-old from Bradford - had also been arrested in connection with possession of a firearm.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the men were being interviewed at various police stations in the area.

"They are currently in custody for questioning," she said.

The arrests come after the broadcast of the TV documentary Secret Agent last Thursday which showed BNP activists confessing to race-hate crimes.

The covertly filmed footage broadcast on BBC1 showed BNP leader Nick Griffin condemning Islam as a "vicious, wicked faith" and claiming he would face seven years in prison if he made the comments in public.

A BBC reporter who spent six months undercover with the BNP recorded another of the group's members, Steve Barkham, confessing to taking part in a racially-motivated attack on an Asian man during the 2001 Bradford riots.

Both Mr Barkham and Dave Midgley, a BNP candidate for council elections, have now been expelled by the party.