US 2003 bombing suspect Daniel San Diego ‘found in north Wales’

One of America’s most wanted men has been arrested in Wales 21 years after a double bombing in San Francisco.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was held after an operation backed by counter terrorist police and North Wales Police on Monday.

He now faces extradition to the US after being arrested at a property in a remote rural area near woodland in north Wales by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Christopher Wray said: “Daniel San Diego’s arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”

He said: “There’s a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.”

The NCA said he was arrested at the request of US authorities and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Tuesday, where extradition proceedings began.

“He was remanded in custody,” a spokesman said.

The FBI previously called the suspect – who was born in Berkeley, California – an “animal rights extremist” – who was wanted for allegedly bombing two office buildings in the San Francisco area in 2003.

He became the first alleged domestic terrorist to be added to the US agency’s most wanted terrorists list.

There was a reward of $250,000 (£199,000) for information leading to his arrest.

The first bombing happened on 28 August 2003, outside the Chiron Life Science Center in Emeryville, California.

A second bomb was found at the site by authorities but exploded before it could be defused.

The agency said that raised the possibility the device was planted specifically to target first responders.

Less than a month later, in September 2003, a nail bomb exploded outside a nutritional products corporation based in Pleasanton, California.

The suspect was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, in July 2004 over his alleged involvement, the FBI said.