An Gof
An Gofwas a militantCornish nationalistgroup suspected of a series of attacks in the 1980s.[1]The name was also used by a group in 2007.
The organisation's name isCornishfor "The Smith", and takes its name from the trade ofMichael An Gof,a leader of theCornish Rebellion of 1497.
1980s
[edit]In December 1980, a group calling itself An Gof 1980 exploded a bomb at the courthouse inSt Austell.In January 1981, they claimed responsibility for a fire at aPenzancehairdressers (the business was mistaken for theBristol and WestBuilding Society). Later in the decade, An Gof claimed responsibility for a number of fires, including one at the ZodiacBingoHall inRedruth.They also claimed responsibility for an attempted explosion at Beacon Village Hall inCamborneand placing broken glass under the sand atPortreathBeach in 1984, "to deter tourists".[2][3]Some commentators believed the group were claiming unrelated acts as their own.[4]
2000s
[edit]A group claiming to be An Gof stated on 12 March 2007 that it wanted to destroy allEnglish flagsinCornwall.A statement made by a spokesman for the group was faxed to the Cornish Branch of theCeltic Leagueby an unknown person who withheld their telephone number and reads as follows:
Out of respect for many of the decent and honourableCornish peoplepresent today, we have asked our membership to remain inactive. We are aware that reputations were placed on the line by moderate Cornish Nationals who have been subject of death threats from the far right as well as threats of action by the police. However, we wish to make this point very clear: any attempts from hereon to fly the hated and oppressiveFlag of St. Georgeof England which we know as the blood banner in this our Country will result in direct action by our organization. For those who question our motives, we refer them to the events of 1497 and 1549 and the years of English Imperialistic repression which has followed. We shall not show the tolerance of those standing Vigil today and our action will be to remove and burn the flags of the English which may cause peripheral damage. An Gof 1497.[citation needed]
In March 2007 a group claiming to be the resurrected "An Gof" committed several acts of vandalism, including spraying anti-English graffiti on buildings and slashing English flags in gardens. These actions were condemned by the Cornish nationalist political partyMebyon Kernow,who appealed to the group to "work for Cornwall through other positive means".[2]
This was followed on 13 June 2007 by a declaration from a new group called theCornish National Liberation Army,which claimed to have formed due to a merger of An Gof and theCornish Liberation Army,and declared the restaurants in Cornwall owned byJamie OliverandRick Steinto be targets for terrorist action and enemies of the Cornish people.[1]A 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the threats.[5]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^abMorris, Steven (14 June 2007)."Cornish militants rise again - and this time they're targeting celebrity chefs".The Guardian.London.Retrieved18 June2007.
- ^ab"Condemnation for 'An Gof' vandalism".Falmouthpacket.co.uk.25 April 2007.Retrieved10 July2017.
- ^Ames, Justin (10 January 2012)."In Search Of The Cornish National Liberation Army".The Velvet Rocket.Retrieved10 July2017.
- ^Steven Morris."Cornish militants rise again - this time targeting celebrity chefs".The Guardian.Retrieved10 July2017.
- ^Haines, Lester."Man cuffed over Jamie Oliver email threat".theregister.Retrieved22 August2023.
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