Four men in Sweden have been found guilty of racially motivated assaults and sentenced to jail after a trial that revealed a growing pattern of far-right activists banding together in fitness clubs.

The four men, aged 20 to 23, were members of an “active club”. Such clubs are loosely structured groups that meet in gyms and aim to promote white nationalist, misogynist and hyper-masculine ideology.

Prosecutors had argued the four, who were all connected to Active Club Sweden, had chosen “people of foreign origin” to attack in quick succession in central Stockholm in August.

A court in Stockholm on Tuesday said their actions constituted a hate crime and sentenced them to between six months and three years in prison, also ordering them to pay damages.

One man was also convicted of vandalism, including drawing a far-right symbol on a shop window.

More details soon …

Agence France-Presse contributed to this article.