Five people were arrested in a series of pipe bombings in Fresno, Calif., and police were searching for links to white supremacist groups. Investigators in California are looking into links between five suspects arrested after a series of pipe bombings, one of which destroyed a county probation car, and white supremacist groups after police uncovered apparent Nazi flags in the case. Police discovered Nazi paraphernalia in a series of searches on Friday, Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said. He said it was unclear how the individuals arrested were connected to hate groups and could not say whether the victims were targeted because of their race. “This looks to be Nazi paraphernalia, possibly racist paraphernalia,” the chief said in a news conference on Wednesday. “This is still very early on in the investigation. We have a lot of evidence and information to look through. A lot of the pieces of evidence are still being processed.” Police believe one of the men arrested is responsible for seven pipe bomb cases in the Fresno area since December. The bombs have gradually become more frequent, the chief said. The most recent bombing destroyed a county probation car on Feb. 21. No one was hurt in the incidents. Detectives identified Scott Anderson, 44, as a prime suspect in two cases in January. And he and a second suspect, Frank Rocha, 56, were arrested during a traffic stop in Riverside County in Southern California on Feb. 24. The search of their vehicle took three hours and required an evacuation of the area, the chief said. During a search of three locations, police seized 11 firearms, including rifles and shotguns, several hundred rounds of ammunition, nearly 90 grams of methamphetamine packaged for sale and about $50,000 in cash.
via lawandcrime: Links to white supremacist groups probed after Nazi flags found in raids on suspected California pipe bombers
siehe auch: 5 held after series of Fresno bombings. Police, FBI probe links to hate groups. Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama on Wednesday announced the arrest of five people after a series of bombings in the city. A task force of local police and FBI agents also seized bomb-making components, firearms, methamphetamine and white supremacist paraphernalia, including Nazi flags. The investigation ranged as far as Riverside County, where Scott Anderson, 44, the suspected bomber, was arrested together with Frank Rocha, 56. Two other men are in custody after they were arrested in Fresno: Steven Burkett, 51; and Paul New, 55. Also arrested was Amanda Sanders, 41. (…) Anderson, who has a criminal record that includes being a felon in possession of a firearm, is accused of detonating an explosive device and possession of firearms. Rocha is accused of possession bomb-making materials. Burkett is facing charges of possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon. New is facing charges of possessing firearms and explosives as a convicted felon. Sanders was charged with possession of the methamphetamine; Fresno serial-bombing suspect arrested: everything we know so far. The Fresno Police Department announced on Wednesday the arrest of a man allegedly connected to several bombings in the Fresno area that took first began in December. According to the Fresno Police Department Chief Paco Balderrama, 44-year-old Scott Anderson is believed to be connected with several incidents that took place between December 13 and February 21 – including one at the office of the Fresno County Probation Department. (…) During the search warrant, officers reported finding 11 illegal firearms that included four handguns, five rifles, three shotguns, and several hundred rounds of ammunition. As well as 90 grams of methamphetamines packaged for sale and $50,000 cash.