FBI adds activist to terror list

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An animal rights extremist accused of bomb attacks on firms associated with a Cambridgeshire firm has been added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.

A reward of $250,000 (£172,000) has been offered for information leading to the arrest of Californian-born vegan Daniel Andreas San Diego, 31.

He is wanted in connection with attacks on biotech facilities in the US with links to Huntingdon Life Sciences.

The FBI said he was likely to be armed and should be considered dangerous.

A known associate of the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac) campaign, Mr San Diego has been on the run for three years and is wanted for his alleged involvement in two attacks on firms in California in 2003.

The first occurred outside Chiron Life Science Centre in Emeryville.

When police responded, a second bomb was discovered but exploded before it could be disarmed, suggesting its target was emergency services responding to the incident, the FBI said.

Less than a month later, a nail bomb exploded at a separate Californian facility.

Bomb materials found

No-one died in the attacks but they caused extensive damage to property.

After each bombing a notice was placed on the internet by those claiming responsibility calling on businesses to end their association with Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Further violence was threatened if the demands were not met.

Huntingdon Life Sciences has long been targeted by animal rights activists.

Shac was set up in the UK in the late 1990s to campaign for the facility's closure.

Mr San Diego was identified as a suspect in the Californian bombings after a minor traffic violation just hours before the second incident.

A search of his home found bomb-making materials similar to those used in the attacks.

Michael Heimbach, assistant director of the FBI's counter-terrorist division, said: "We have added San Diego to the Most Wanted Terrorists list to increase public awareness about this domestic terrorist fugitive and to aid in his arrest.

"We will not relent until San Diego is apprehended and his potential for future acts of violence and destruction is eliminated."