White extremists linked to Cape Town bombings
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police in Cape Town are investigating possible connections between a white extremist group calling itself the White Wolves and a man arrested for questioning yesterday over two recent bomb attacks on a restaurant and a gay bar.
Police in Cape Town are investigating possible connections between a white extremist group calling itself the White Wolves and a man arrested for questioning yesterday over two recent bomb attacks on a restaurant and a gay bar.
A South African police spokeswoman, Sally de Beer, said yesterday that a Cape Town radio station had received a letter said to be from the Arnold Lees Battalion of the White Wolves claiming responsibility for attacks on the Blah Blah gay bar and St Elmo's Pizza restaurant in which 57 people were injured.
After the St Elmo's blast, on 28 November, police and government leaders at first held Muslim fundamentalists responsible for the bombings. But Ms de Beer said detectives from Cape Town's anti-terrorist unit, Operation Good Hope, were now investigating possible links between the letter, the bombings and the white extremist who had been arrested.
The suspect, Deon Mostert, 26, was stopped at a roadblock in Beaufort West, about four hours north-east of Cape Town, a day after police issued his name and description to the public. A police spokesman said Mr Mostert did not resist arrest. Former neighbours described the suspect as a right-wing extremist with a history of learning difficulties and possible links to the police.
Ms de Beer said it was "certain statements concerning pipe bombs" that put Mr Mostert under suspicion but that the case was still open.
The original White Wolves was a racial supremacist organisation linked to the terrorist Barend Strydom, who shot dead seven black people at random in central Pretoria in 1988. Security sources had long believed Strydom to be the only member.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments