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Sleuth sensationally claims world-famous street artist Banksy is Massive Attack founder Robert Del Naja

Craig Williams says band's tour dates coincide with Banksy murals around the globe

A SLEUTH claims to have finally unveiled street artist Banksy's true identity - a member of chart-toppers Massive Attack.

Robert '3D' Del Naja is one part of the iconic Bristol trip hop band.

And Craig Williams claims the group's founding member has a second career as the world-famous graffiti artist and social commentator.

Williams has cross-referenced the locations of Banksy's works around the globe with Massive Attack's tour dates.

One investigator believes that Massive Attack founding member Robert Del Naja (pictured) is the person behind street artist Banksy
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One investigator believes that Massive Attack founding member Robert Del Naja (pictured) is the person behind street artist BanksyCredit: Getty Images - WireImage
The urban artist is world famous for his satirical graffiti works that have popped up all around the globe
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The urban artist is world famous for his satirical graffiti works that have popped up all around the globeCredit: Alamy
Craig Williams cross-referenced Massive Attack's tour dates with the emergence of new Banksy works around around the globe
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Craig Williams cross-referenced Massive Attack's tour dates with the emergence of new Banksy works around around the globeCredit: Getty Images

And an uncanny number coincide at several locations across Europe, Australia and America.

Del Naja is also a Bristolian - the same city in which Banksy first made his name.

Williams said: "But what if Banksy isn't the one person everyone thinks he is. What if Banksy is a group of people who have stencilling different locations both at home and abroad?

"Such a rich body of work done over a decade, across the globe, may allow for the suggestion.

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"A rumour exists from 2010 that his work that went up around North America was his work but were not necessarily painted by him, but rather by a street team that happened to be following the Massive Attack tour.

"And on analysis of his North American work, this makes perfect sense."

Speculation regarding Banksy's identity has long been aimed at former public schoolboy Robin Gunningham.

But the latest theory shines a light on Del Naja, who founded Massive Attack in 1991 and is famous for classic tracks like Teardop and Unfinished Symphony.

And he found that many of the murals coincided with the band's dates in Australia, Europe and the US
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And he found that many of the murals coincided with the band's dates in Australia, Europe and the USCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Speculation has long suggested that ex-public schoolboy Robin Gunningham is the face behind Banksy
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Speculation has long suggested that ex-public schoolboy Robin Gunningham is the face behind Banksy
But the latest suggestions puts fellow Bristolian Del Naja as a prime candidate
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But the latest suggestions puts fellow Bristolian Del Naja as a prime candidateCredit: SWNS

Over a period of seven years, new Banksy street works coincided with the band's tour dates in Boston, Toronto, New Orleans, San Francisco, Melbourne and Los Angeles.

Williams added: "Perhaps the assertion then that Banksy is just one person is wide of the mark, instead being a group who have, over the years, followed Massive Attack around and painted walls at their leisure.

"And perhaps, at the head of such a group we have Del Naja. A multi-disciplined artist in front of one the seminal groups in recent British music history, doubling up as the planet's most revered street artist. Now that would be cool.

Banksy's works have fetched as much as £500,000 at auction as he became a global art sensation
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Banksy's works have fetched as much as £500,000 at auction as he became a global art sensationCredit: EPA
The works began to emerge in Bristol during the early nineties and quickly spread across the rest of the UK
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The works began to emerge in Bristol during the early nineties and quickly spread across the rest of the UKCredit: Reuters
The pieces often make a political point about Banksyˈs observations on inequality or injustice
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The pieces often make a political point about Banksyˈs observations on inequality or injusticeCredit: Getty

"As for the timing of the news, I believe a new mural is highly likely to appear prior to or after the concert (in Bristol)."

Banksy has before distanced himself from being linked to the musician.

He first burst onto prominence in the early nineties as a graffiti artist whose works highlighted corruption and inequality in society with a smattering of humour.

His murals have fetched as much as £550,000 at auction.

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