FBI fugitive found in Wales has £20,000 in frozen assets confiscated

A man suspected of terrorism who evaded the FBI for over two decades was recently located in a secluded cottage in North Wales, leading to the police freezing and confiscating more than £20,000 of his assets. Daniel Andreas San Diego was found in 2024 residing in the Conwy valley, a full 21 years after fleeing California just before authorities were set to arrest him on allegations of planting three nail bombs.

San Diego recently lost his appeal against extradition and is currently held at Belmarsh Prison in London, awaiting transfer back to the United States to face terror-related charges. Prior to this, a district judge in Llandudno approved a request from North Wales Police to forfeit his bank accounts, which had been frozen pending legal proceedings.

While on the run, San Diego used an alias—Danny Webb—and possessed an Irish passport under that name. During this time, he worked as an IT consultant. The police initially faced resistance when attempting to seize the financial assets tied to Webb, but Judge Anita Price later confirmed the confiscation as San Diego ceased contesting the application.

San Diego, an animal rights activist from Berkeley, was implicated by the US government in bombing two California factories in 2003, although no casualties resulted from the explosions. The group Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility for the attacks. San Diego became a primary suspect after being stopped near one of the targeted factories and disappearing soon after his release. Notably, his fingerprints were discovered on bomb-making materials inside a car he later abandoned. At one time, he was among America’s most sought-after fugitives and appeared multiple times on the program America’s Most Wanted. It remains unclear whether he will attempt to appeal his extradition, as officials have declined to comment on individual cases

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