FBI Most Wanted Suspect Arrested in Rural Welsh Home
Daniel Andreas San Diego, a long-sought FBI fugitive, was arrested in a secluded house near Llanrwst, North Wales, after 21 years on the run. The 45-year-old, who had a $250,000 bounty on his head, purchased the £425,000 property in August 2023 under the name Danny Webb.
The house, located in Maenan, is a white villa situated in a picturesque woodland area, offering stunning views of rolling hills and the Carneddau mountains. The property’s previous owner, Aled Evans, described San Diego as a quiet, likeable man who was particularly excited about the woodland behind the house for mountain biking.
San Diego’s arrest stems from his alleged involvement in two bombings in San Francisco in 2003. The FBI accused him of being an “animal rights extremist” responsible for explosive devices at the Chiron Life Science Center in Emeryville and a nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton, California. He became the first “domestic terrorist” added to the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list, which was created after the 9/11 attacks.
The property where San Diego was found is located at the end of a narrow track on a steep, forested hill. The house, originally a small two-storey Welsh cottage, now features a single-storey extension. Neighbors rarely saw him, and he presented himself as an IT professional.
When the BBC visited the property, signs suggested a hasty departure. Keys were left in the lock, kitchen items were scattered, and personal belongings were left behind. A wetsuit and high-end power tools indicated someone who enjoyed outdoor activities.
Evans recalled that San Diego offered £15,000 over the asking price and spent considerable time on the balcony during the house viewing. He appeared relaxed and was not concerned about unfinished repair work to a summer house.
The FBI’s last confirmed sighting of San Diego was in 2003 in downtown San Francisco, where he was seen entering a train station. Michael J Heimbach, the FBI’s counterterrorism division assistant director, described San Diego’s alleged actions as “domestic acts of terror planned out and possibly intended to take lives.”
San Diego’s arrest came after 21 years of evading authorities, during which he managed to blend into a quiet rural community. He appeared on the most wanted list alongside notorious figures like Osama Bin Laden.
The property’s owner, Aled Evans, summed up the surreal situation, saying, “You couldn’t make it up.” San Diego’s picturesque view, which he reportedly loved, will now be replaced by a prison cell, marking the end of his long period of hiding.
