In 1999, David Copeland carried out three bomb attacks in London. Now, he’s in prison for life and his crimes are the subject of new Netflix documentary film Nail Bomber: Manhunt.
The bombings took place over three weekends in April that year, and resulted in the deaths of three people and injured 140 others. Copeland targeted Black, Bangladeshi and gay communities and was found after CCTV footage of his first attack was released and an undercover member of far-right political groups identified him as being in the images.
Here’s everything we know about 1999 London nail bombings perpetrator David Copeland, and where he is now.
Thursday, 27th May 2021 at 9:02 am
New Netflix true-crime documentary Nail Bomber: Manhunt examines a series of London bombings, which took place over three weekends in April 1999 across London – in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho.
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The bombs were made and detonated by far-right extremist David Copeland, who targeted Black, Asian, and LGBTQ+ communities.
While the police launched a manhunt to track him down, leading to Copeland’s arrest, many others were involved in the capturing of the Nail Bomber, including an informant known as Arthur.
Arthur – an anti-fascist activist – got to know Copeland when he joined the intelligence-gathering wing of Searchlight, a magazine that worked to infiltrate and monitor far-right groups.
Today, Netflix has released a new true crime documentary about the London nail bombings of 1999. The incidents took place over three weekends, and ended in the deaths of three innocent people – one of which was a pregnant woman.
The Netflix synopsis for the hour and 12 minute long film reads: “This documentary examines the 1999 London bombings that targeted Black, Bangladeshi and gay communities, and the race to find the far-right perpetrator”.
Here’s the full true story of the London nail bombings, which new true crime documentary, Nail Bomber: Manhunt, on Netflix is about.
via Netflix
In 1999, across three successive weekends, homemade nail bombs were let off around London.