EU backs swastika ban after Prince Harry photos

Nazi symbols could be banned throughout the EU under new moves to clamp down on racism and xenophobia following the release of photos of Prince Harry wearing a swastika armband.

Nazi symbols could be banned throughout the EU under new moves to clamp down on racism and xenophobia following the release of photos of Prince Harry wearing a swastika armband.

A drive to ban fascist insignia yesterday won key support from Luxembourg, which holds the rotating EU presidency, and from the European commissioner for justice and home affairs, Franco Frattini.

Following the furore over Prince Harry, German politicians have called for an EU-wide ban similar to that in place in Germany, Austria and Hungary.

The proposals could embarrass the UK which, along with Italy, helped block similar ideas two years ago.

In 2003 plans for a ban failed to get the unanimous support needed. Germany had pushed for Holocaust denial to be treated as an offence.