Right wing posts appear against St Athan Afghan scheme

South Wales Police say they are aware of posts on social media calling for a demonstration headlined “local homes for local people”.

On March 27, it was revealed up to 180 people fleeing the Taliban are to be housed in East Camp at MOD St Athan.

Days later, at the beginning of April, worrying posts, seemingly against the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP scheme) appeared online.

The first cohort of families to arrive in St Athan consist of 50 people, half of them said to be children.

The fleeing families supported the British Military during occupations in the Middle East.

Colonel Sion Walker, deputy commander of 160th (Welsh) Brigade, and communications advisor Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Jackson emphasised the importance of these peoples’ support towards the military abroad, saying: “We could not do what we were doing without them.”

The trip was described as “one-way”, with the families set to be integrated into society across the UK.

• Read more: MOD St Athan site to shelter fleeing Afghan families

Local MP Alun Cairns estimates families will be in St Athan for approximately four to six weeks, and all their needs on health and language are being met by the MoD on site

Conservative for the Vale of Glamorgan, Mr Cairns said any far-right protest is not being conducted in the name of local residents.

“The local community have been hugely supportive and recognise the debt we owe to Afghan families whose lives were at risk for helping our forces against the Taliban," said Mr Cairns.

“This is the least we can do for all the help of intelligence, translation and security they provided in the allied efforts.

“Any far-right protest is not being conducted in the name of local residents.”

The families being sheltered helped British forces abroad (Image: Newsquest)

Worrying posts against the plan are appearing online (The date has been removed from this photo) (Image: Social media)

Vale of Glamorgan fights hate with love

In March last year, Vale of Glamorgan residents “fought hate with love” when members of a far-right group descended on Llantwit Major to protest against plans to house Ukrainian refugees in the town.

The right-wing group "Patriotic Alternative" and counter protesters from socialist revolutionary group the "Welsh Underground Network" came to town where there were clashes with police.

• Read more: Vale rejects hatred as far-right group protests against refugee housing plans

Counter-protestors at the protest in Llantwit Major last year (Image: Gareth Llewelyn Evans)

Meanwhile a number of locals gathered for a calmer counter-protest chanting “people should be welcomed here and not shunned away”.

That protest came after Vale Council confirmed an old primary school would be turned into temporary accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.