Neo-Nazis suspects in firebomb attacks on Perth restaurants

By GREG ANSLEY, Australia correspondent

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard yesterday joined national outrage at the firebombing of three Chinese restaurants in Perth that raised fears of a renewed neo-Nazi campaign against Asians.

"Let me say that I am appalled at what occurred," he said as West Australian arson squad detectives pursued what they described as strong lines of inquiry.

"Any suggestion of attacks with a racial bias appals Australians."

The restaurants in the southern Perth suburbs of Spearwood, Yangebup and Willeton were firebombed in the early hours of Sunday morning and daubed with swastikas.

One, the Foo Win restaurant in Willeton, had last year been painted with swastikas, but neither of the other businesses had been targeted by racist attacks.

Suspicion initially fell on the extreme-right Australian Nationalist Workers Union, led by Jack van Tongeren, who spearheaded a similar neo-Nazi campaign against Asians in the 1980s.

Van Tongeren and two associates were convicted in 1990 on more than 100 charges, including arson, assault, conspiracy, theft and fraud.

Van Tongeren, a Vietnam veteran, was released in September 2002 after serving 12 years in jail.

Members of his organisation at the time, the Australian Nationalist Movement, were anti-semitic, anti-Asian and anti-black, and wore jackboots and black uniforms emblazoned with a Celtic cross.

Their attacks on Asian businesses were designed to bankrupt migrants and force them to leave Australia.

Since his release from jail von Tongeren has formed the Nationalist Workers Union as a vehicle for his bid for the Senate in this year's federal election, still advocating neo-Nazi and anti-Asian policies.

But police said yesterday that there was evidence van Tongeren was away from Perth at the time of latest firebombings and that at this stage there was nothing to link him or the Nationalist Workers Union with the attacks.

Van Tongeren told reporters he was not involved and that his new movement was a legitimate trade union which did not firebomb Chinese restaurants.

"This action sounds like the frustrated, angry actions of Aussies who feel abandoned by the existing political system," he said.

Police and the State Government believe the attacks were racially motivated and warned that those responsible would be tracked down and dealt with severely.

In 1990, in response to the firebombings by Van Tongeren's neo-Nazis, the Western Australia Government introduced tough new laws against inciting racial hatred or harassing a racial group.

"Courts in the past have shown a preparedness to treat these sorts of criminal behaviours very seriously," said State Attorney-General Jim McGinty.

A police spokesman said it was likely that the restaurants were bombed one after the other by the same people, hitting the Lakelands Chinese Restaurant in Yangebup first at about 3.30am, the Foo Win about 10 minutes later, and the Spearwood Chinese Restaurants at about 4.30am.

"The arson squad is investigating the very strong possibility that all three attacks are linked," he said.

The spokesman said arrests could be made within days.

"We have some strong lines of inquiry so we might have a resolution on this sooner rather than later."