Activist Extremists Top U.S. Domestic Threat
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Associated Press
WASHINGTON "” Environmental and animal rights activists who have turned to arson and explosives are the nation's top domestic terrorism threat, an FBI official told a Senate committee on Wednesday.
Groups such as the Animal Liberation Front (search), the Earth Liberation Front and Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty are "way out in front" in terms of damage and number of crimes, said John Lewis, the FBI's deputy assistant director for counterterrorism.
"There is nothing else going on in this country over the last several years that is racking up the high number of violent crimes and terrorist actions," Lewis said.
ALF says on its Web site that its small, autonomous groups of people take "direct action" against animal abuse by rescuing animals and causing financial loss to animal exploiters, usually through damage and destruction of property. ELF (search) is an underground movement with no public leadership, membership or spokesperson.
The British-based SHAC describes itself as a worldwide campaign since 1999 to rescue animals tortured in research labs and shut down the businesses that rely on their use. It says it "does not encourage or incite illegal activity."
Lewis said the FBI concluded that after analyzing all types of cases and comparing the groups with "right-wing extremists, KKK, anti-abortion groups and the like." He said most animal rights and eco-extremists so far have refrained from violence targeting human life.
"The FBI has observed troubling signs that this is changing. We have seen an escalation in violent rhetoric and tactics," he told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (search). "Attacks are also growing in frequency and size."
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the panel's chairman, said he hoped to examine more closely how the groups might be getting assistance in fundraising and communications from tax-exempt organizations' "mainstream activists" not directly blamed for the violence.
"Just like Al Qaeda (search) or any other terrorist organization, ELF and ALF cannot accomplish their goals without money, membership and the media," Inhofe said.
The FBI said 35 of its offices have 150 open investigations, with activists claiming credit for 1,200 crimes between 1990 and mid-2004.
Investigators cite examples of people using arson, bombings, theft, animal releases, vandalism, harassing phone calls, letters rigged with razor blades, and office takeovers.
Such tactics have been used in what officials call "direct action" campaigns to disrupt university research labs, restaurants, fur farms and logging operations. Newer targets include SUV dealerships and new home developments as signs of urban sprawl.
Officials say the incidents have caused more than $110 million in damage. The biggest so far was an arson at a five-story condominium under construction in San Diego in August 2003 that caused $50 million in damage.
In the past few years arson fires and explosives have been used increasingly, Lewis said. "We have a serious movement afoot," he said.
Since 1993, when ELF declared solidarity with ALF, "there has been a convergence of agendas," said Carson Carroll, deputy assistant director for field operations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the nation's premier bomb investigators.
"The most worrisome trend to law enforcement and private industry alike has been the increase in willingness by these movements to resort to the use of incendiary and explosive devices," Carroll said.
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I don't know, they're all pretty much fringe nut bag groups like the American Communist party that have been around forever -- and have achieved virtually nothing.
I think we have bigger fish to fry that will easily destroy this country.
I think we have bigger fish to fry that will easily destroy this country.
Maybe so, but the environuts and PETA whackos are getting more brazen and more violent. It started with boycotts, protests, and media campaigns. Then they upped the ante with vandalism, destruction of property, and arson. Now they're starting to stalk human targets (researchers, CEOs) so they can pattern their movements in order to plan attacks on their cars or homes. It wouldn't surprise me if murder is right around the corner.
A lot of illegals behead goats and such. Maybe we can get the animal rights crowd to war against illegals. Save us a lot of time, trouble, money, and ammo.
I think we will be eaten from within anyway. Did you read about the new and "improved" patriot act II ? FBI no longer needs court approval or supoenas !!!
wonderful.
"It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is
to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad. "
Activist Extremists Top U.S. Domestic Threat
