![The Independent](../../Online/std/masthead/independent.gif) London, Friday, June 25, 1999
BRITAIN Neo-Nazi
held for sending race-hate mail By Jason Bennetto Crime Correspondent THE ALLEGED leader of a
neo-Nazi group was arrested at Gatwick
airport yesterday in connection with
race-hate mail sent before and during the
London nail-bomb campaign. Officers from Special Branch arrested
Del O'Connor after he arrived back
in Britain from the United States. He was
released on bail. Mr O'Connor, 39, is the alleged leader
of the White Wolves, a renegade faction of
extreme right-wing group Combat 18, which
has allegedly called on its supporters to
launch a race war. He was arrested as part of an ongoing
investigation by Scotland Yard into the
distribution of race-hate material. On 5
March, four people were arrested and
released on bail as part of the
operation. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "A
39-year-old man was arrested in connection
with the distribution of race-hate
material. "It is part of an ongoing investigation
into the extremist group known as Combat
18." As well as
being questioned about the operation in
March, Mr O'Connor is understood to
have been quizzed on the race-hate
material distributed during the three
nail-bomb attacks in London's Brixton,
Brick Lane and Soho in April. A stencilled message from the "Command
Council of the White Wolves" was received
by the Eastern Eye newspaper two
days before the Brixton bombing on 17
April. [see note
below] Another message sent after the blast
said: "C18 did not carry out the Brixton
bombing. We, the White Wolves, did." It was not clear why Mr O'Connor
returned from the United States but it was
thought to be linked to a visa
problem. It was not known if American officials
had tipped off British police. "Why he left the States is a matter for
the US authorities," the police
spokeswoman added.![](../../Online/std/dings/square.gif) David Copeland, from
Cove, Hampshire, has been charged with
murder in connection with the London
nail bombings. He is awaiting trial. |