| Hateland -
Articles |
30/06/00
- Portrait of a killer
Reporter: Simon Israel
One man managed to terrorise seven million Londoners
with three bombs designed to maim and kill. David Copeland
claimed it was his destiny. Since his arrest, police
and a host of psychiatrists have had unprecedented access
to a the mind of a person driven to commit such calculated
acts of destruction.
Our Home Affairs reporter Simon Israel examines why
Copeland did it and how he was finally caught: 'I wanted
to be famous in someway' 'If no-one remembers who you
are you never existed' 'I wanted to cause mayhem, murder
and chaos' 'I wanted to terrorise Britain' 'The British
people had a right to ethnic cleansing '
The twilight world of 22 year old David Copeland was
among the sex shops and clubs in London's Soho, where
his most lethal work was to take place. Some nights
he would wander the streets...now and again picking
up a prostitute... or renting a pornographic video.
And all the time he would fantasise about bringing chaos
and destruction. Doctor Philip Joseph is one of several
psychiatrists who've spent many hours in Broadmoor listening
to Copeland's life story. What's emerged is a twisted
embittered account. His parents he claimed subjected
him to mental torture...but not abuse.
Education amounted to seven GCSEs and an electronics
course at Farnborough Technical College. He was by all
accounts average. When he was 19. His mother left. Copeland
began to exhibit fits of rage. He went into isolation.
It was then the seeds of destruction were sown by images
from the other side of the Atlantic.
It was the 96 Atlanta Olympics bombing. Copeland was
mesmerised by the ensuing chaos, terror and mayhem.
This was power. 'I believed in Aryan domination' 'I'm
a Nazi' 'I believe in the National Socialist cause'
Copeland toyed with the British National Party for a
while. And was pictured here at a rally where red paint
was splattered over the leader John Tyndall.
But the BNP wasn't extreme enough. He joined the National
Socialist Movement, followers of Hitler and Nazism.
He was given the grand title of unit leader for four
southern counties of an organisation whose membership
didn't even reach double figures. Copeland regarded
the movement as basically a bunch of yobs.
But he shared their ideals of white supremacy... violence
implied. The NSM disbanded after Copeland was caught.
It's leader refused to be interviewed on camera. The
movement fuelled Copeland's obsessions and hatreds.
His bedroom wall was covered with stories of horror
and carnage from around the world....one of his hero's
Adolf Hitler at the centre of this gruesome collage.
It also included of pictures of his own handiwork...his
own evidence of the notoriety he so desperately sought
Another of Copeland's idols was Henry Lee Lucas..an
American serial killer..who stalked the streets of Chicago.
Copeland used to play the video of his life story over
and over again....feeding his fascination for the macabre.
On journeys into London, Copeland would sometimes visit
an internet cafe near Victoria station. The net sated
his desire both for more extremist literature...and
the practicalities of realising his ambition..to start
a racial war in Britain by creating a bomb. His initial
plan for a high explosive bomb ended in failure.
But he then came across a simpler device: a pipe bomb.
Brixton began what one senior officer described as "the
terrible 15 days we suffered last Spring." Much
of Cropland's movements were filmed on CCTV. But life
is never that simple. Police officers were faced with
having to find and track the common denominator in hundreds
of hours of footage.
Brick Lane was next. Injuries were minimal..more by
luck that judgement. Copeland had got the wrong day
for the normally busy market. He was later to admit
he had the option to abort, but didn't. On Thursday
29th April, images of the suspect were published. Copeland
was in one of his regular haunts in Soho when he heard
on the radio his picture was everywhere. He changed
plans.
As Copeland headed to Soho with the bomb in his bag,
officers had just learnt of his identity. A work mate,
who recognised his picture rang with Copeland's name
around 5.30pm. Copeland planted the bomb around sixish.
By 6:20pm he was leaving the area. Fifteen minutes later
the bomb went off. The breakthrough had come too late.
In the early hours of the following morning the 22 year
old engineer was arrested at his bedsit in Cove. 'I
feel nothing, I don't feel sadness, I don't feel joy.
I did what I had to do' In his room, amid several half-made
bombs police found other weapons - Copeland had imagined
using. A series of knives, a crossbow, and a gas powered
pistol.
The best camouflage was the fact he was so ordinary.
In many ways what he did can be seen as an American-style
crime..where the nobody seeks to become somebody. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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