Police have appealed for help in tracing a man nicknamed Badger wanted in connection with suspected anarchist attacks on a newspaper office and a communications mast.
A £10,000 reward has been offered by the charity Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest of 27-year-old Huw Norfolk.
An arson attack on a mast in Bath in January 2013 caused damage worth several hundred thousand pounds and affected television, radio and mobile phone signals to thousands of homes and businesses. Police said it put lives at risk by cutting off communications with the emergency services.
In August 2011 the offices of the Bristol Post were attacked, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Windows were smashed and paint was thrown over the front of the building.
A police inquiry codenamed Operation Rhone is under way to investigate more than 100 incidents of arson and criminal damage in the Avon and Somerset region during the last four years.
DCI Andy Bevan, of Avon and Somerset police, said: “We are taking every incident extremely seriously and we’re committed to bringing those guilty of committing them to justice. As part of the investigation we have reviewed each incident and we are now treating them as linked.
“We are continuing to explore numerous lines of inquiry including investigating claims of responsibility which have been made on various online websites or documents.”
Norfolk is wanted in connection with only the two attacks the police have specified. Bevan said it was possible Norfolk could be in Europe or further afield. He said Norfolk had links to anarchist communities in the UK.
Norfolk is described as white, of slight build, with green eyes, and known to sometimes wear spectacles. He has distinctive tattoos including one spelling out “Anarchy and Peace”.
