My hunt for Hitler’s horses:

How the ‘Indiana Jones of the art world’ ARTHUR BRAND was plunged into a terrifying neo-Nazi subculture and a confrontation with Himmler’s daughter

At the office they call me Don Quixote — because I spend too much of my time as an art detective on wild goose chases. And my latest project, I have to admit, had all the hallmarks. I really had no idea what I was getting into. Certainly no inkling that it would involve not only Adolf Hitler but the Russian army, the East German secret police, present-day neo-Nazis and a sinister Far-Right organisation.  It all started with a phone call in 2014 from Michel van Rijn, once a major player in the criminal art world and now supposedly straight — though one could never be 100 per cent sure. 

‘I’m on to something amazing. Really mind-blowing. Take it from me — it’ll never get any bigger than this,’ he said, insisting we meet in person.  Was he trying to get me to do the dirty work in some dodgy deal? Billions change hands every year in the art world, so it attracts its fair share of villains. Indeed, the criminal art circuit has a turnover of around £6.2 billion a year. According to the CIA, it is the world’s fourth biggest source of illegal income, after drugs, money-laundering and arms. Finally, I agreed to meet Michel at his flat. 

Spoils of war: A Russian soldier poses beside one of two bronze horses made by one of the Hitler's favourite Nazi sculptors, Josef Thorak

Spoils of war: A Russian soldier poses beside one of two bronze horses made by one of the Hitler’s favourite Nazi sculptors, Josef Thorak

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I wish I could have “blown his fucking head off” myself

A MAN whose parents were brutally murdered by the Night Stalker serial killer says his family was never given justice and wishes he could have “blown his fucking head off” himself.Peter Zazzara’s father Vincent and step-mom Maxine were brutally murdered by Richard Ramirez in their ranch-style home in Whittier, Los Angeles, on March 27, 1985.

Serial killer Richard Ramirez murdered 13 people in California in the 80s
Serial killer Richard Ramirez murdered 13 people in California in the 80s Credit: YouTube

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Blow the sucker up!

Crumbling Trump Plaza in Atlantic City where high roller lost $10M in baccarat session later fictionalized in the movie Casino will be BLOWN UP and now people can bid to join viewing party from nearby hotel rooms

President Trump left the White House relatively quietly on Wednesday after his four-year term as president came to an end, but a crumbling casino once owned by the former commander-in-chief will go out with much more of a bang when it is demolished next month.  Officials have announced that the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey will be detonated on February 17. The establishment closed to the public in 2014 after 30 years in business and has since fallen into a state of disrepair. 

Trump cut ties with the hotel and casino back in 2009, and current owner Carl Icahn is demolishing the complex to prevent falling debris. Demolition work began on the structure last year, and the rest of the complex was initially set to be blown up next Friday.  However, the implosion has now been pushed back by nearly three weeks  following disagreements between Icahn and city officials over safety requirements. 

Officials have announced that the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey will be detonated on February 17. The complex is pictured back in heyday

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