Phoenix, AZ, June 26, 2009 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the federal indictment and arrests of two white supremacists in a mail bomb attack that seriously injured three City of Scottsdale employees in February 2004.  Among those injured was Don Logan, the city's Director of Diversity and Dialogue, who was apparently singled out because he is an African-American whose work in community relations was well known.

Former Arizona residents and longtime white supremacists Dennis and Daniel Mahon, who are twin brothers, were arrested yesterday by federal agents at their northern Illinois home.  According to the indictment in Arizona U.S. District Court, the brothers conspired with other unnamed individuals to carry out the bombing plot in an effort to promote racial discord on behalf of the "White Aryan Resistance" (WAR), a white supremacist organization.

The exhaustive investigation spanned nearly five-and-a-half years and involved the dedicated efforts of several law enforcement agencies across the country.  ADL's Center on Extremism, which monitors extremist individuals and organizations, has long followed the activities of the Mahon brothers and their associates. Throughout the investigation ADL provided to law enforcement information on the suspects and other persons of interest.

Bill Straus, ADL Arizona Regional Director, issued the following statement:

The arrest of two longtime white supremacists in the heinous mail bomb attack of the Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue is a long time in coming.  The law enforcement agencies that pursued this investigation for more than five years are to be commended for their diligence and leaving no stone unturned in pursuing the perpetrators, and for never doubting that racism was a prime motive for the attack. 

It has long been suspected that Don Logan was singled out because of his race and his work for the city.The indictment shows that the attack had all of the hallmarks of terrorism and a hate crime.  The arrest of the Mahon brothers sends a powerful message that hate crimes are unacceptable in our society, and that those who seek to intimidate others based on race or ethnicity will pay a heavy price for their actions.

The indictment paints a vivid picture of the lengths to which some white supremacists will go not only to carry out violent attacks in the name of a "race war," but also how they will try to avoid detection by carefully covering their tracks, disguising themselves and delegating tasks.  The charges also show how the charged rhetoric of hate groups can and does inspire some followers to take matters into their own hands, and to act as lone wolves in carrying out violent attacks.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.