'Warped loner' in terror campaign

By Damon Embling
Home Affairs Correspondent, BBC South

Azevedo targeted a wide range of individuals and organisations

Brazilian-born Jefferson Azevedo's hatred of foreigners led him to plant a hoax bomb and to send extremist letters containing white powder, racist content and threats.

All had the aim of targeting foreign nationals and supporters of the British immigration system.

The 45-year-old postman, described by police as a warped loner, sparked huge security alerts when more than 40 of his letters were opened between 2003 and 2007.

The white powder was later identified as caustic soda, which can cause severe burns. Tests revealed it was virtually harmless in the amounts found.

I opened it and I saw a white sheet of paper with a picture of us three - my mum, my sister and myself - and it was in black and white Lorin Suliman

Up to 100 more letters contained racist content.

Azevedo has pleaded guilty to 19 offences at City of Westminster Magistrates court - nine of them under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Azevedo, of Langley Road, Portsmouth, agreed for another 140 further charges to be taken into consideration.

One of his racist letters threatened 18-year-old Lorin Suliman, who lives in Portsmouth.

Syrian-born Ms Suliman arrived in the UK with her mother and sister in 2002, after escaping her homeland in the back of a lorry.

In 2007 Azevedo planted a hoax bomb over the A27 in Havant

She was 15 when the family received one of Azevedo's letters.

"I opened it and I saw a white sheet of paper with a picture of us three - my mum, my sister and myself - and it was in black and white," she said.

"It had the writing, 'If black, send them back' underneath it and I think there was a Nazi sign.

"I was really scared, I started feeling vulnerable that people are able to send stuff like that to us," she added.

Azevedo targeted a wide range of individuals and organisations across Hampshire and beyond.

Hampshire Constabulary led the investigation, which spanned 12 different police force areas.

Lorin Suliman was 15 years old when her family received a letter

Two letters containing white powder were sent to St Albans Primary School in Havant, one arrived at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, another was posted to the attorney general's office in London.

A number of media organisations in Hampshire also received letters.

Their content featured swastikas and names of extreme right-wing groups, but police have said there is no evidence to suggest Azevedo belonged to any organisation.

"Certainly we have got no indication that he is linked to any groups," Ch Insp John Geden said.

"It would appear that he is working alone.

"I would describe him as a warped loner really who, for whatever his reasoning and motivation, took great pleasure in sending these letters."

Azevedo's hoax bomb caused the A27 to shut for hours

In 2007, Azevedo went even further.

He planted a hoax bomb on the A27 near Havant. He also left a banner, featuring a swastika, draped on a footbridge across the road.

The A27 was closed for more than six hours, causing traffic chaos, while the army carried out a controlled explosion on the suspect device.

Detectives finally caught up with Azevedo in 2007, after he was arrested in connection with an unrelated matter.

A DNA sample was taken from him and it matched a profile on the national DNA database. He was later arrested and charged.

He will be sentenced on 13 June.