Home U.K Anti-Nazi
On 17th April 1999 a nailbomb hidden in sports bag exploded in the centre of Brixton, London, a well known home for ethnic minorities. 50 people were injured. A week later, another nailbomb exploded in Brick Lane, the centre of London's Bangladeshi community. 13 people were injured. CCTV pictures of a young man in a baseball cap were circulated to the press. Pictures of David Copeland.
Sensing his inevitable capture, he swiftly followed up the Brick Lane bombing with the most vicious attack yet, leaving a similar device in a crowded gay bar, The Admiral Duncan, in London's Soho on 30th April. It was a sunny, summer's day and the pub was packed. 3 people were killed and over 100 injured.
Copeland, young, short, white, was an ex-member of the British National Party. He had left the fascist organisation because he wanted to pursue a more violent form of action. He probably did so with the knowledge and blessing of others within the group. Often referred to as "Mr Angry" by his peers as a child, Copeland made up for his lack of height and his sexual paranoia with violence. His masculinity was threatened by teasing fot his lack of girlfriends, and may have turned into rampant homophobia. He had previous convictions for assault and malicious damage. Joining the National Socialist Movement (NSM), a splinter group of Combat 18 with probably less than 100 members, he became attracted to the ideas advocated by Tom Metzger and inspired by the dull and insipid writing of the Turner Diaries, he set out on a course of 'leaderless resistance, aiming to spark a race war.
He relished the media coverage of his crimes, keeping newspaper cuttings to plaster over his walls alongside Nazi memorobilia. Much vehemence was directed at him by The Sun newspaper, with the grossly insensitive headline 'NAIL HIM', whilst The Sun is nowadays championing the attack on immigration and stirring up it's own little race war.
So who is to blame? Copeland claims that his parents teased him about homosexuality, although this may be a result of advanced paranoia. It is also possible that Copeland became an 'apprentice' to another, older member of his NSM unit, who had a previous conviction for bombing. You could also point to numerous internet sites and Copeland's reading of the Turner Diaries a nd level the blame at them. There is also concern to be directed at the anti-terrorism branch who had been given Copeland's name early on by Searchlight. The officers who arrested Copeland went in unarmed, despite Searchlight's warning that he was a dange rous individual. Copeland was later found to possess a gun, a crossbow and a selection of knives.
However, it is all well and good to point to the shadow of far-right groups and use them as scapegoats to distract attention from the inherent rascis m in our society, evidenced within the pages of tabloids, who attack Nazis such as Copeland on Page One and then stir up nationalism on Page Two with stories about cheap food imports or British involvement in the Kosovo conflict. As Copeland's barrister s aid on BBC's 'Panorama' the night of Copeland's conviction and the judge's awarding of 6 life sentences, 'you are not allowed to shout "fire" in a crowded place... there are limits to freedom of speech' No matter how ironic the jokes are in 'South Park' or how jokingly the Scottish attack the English, there are always individuals who will take those comments seriously and take matters into their own hands.
Home e