Counterterrorism magazine online published my latest Threatcon column.
You can read the column via the below link or the below text:
Last month, one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist fugitives, Daniel Andreas San Diego, was arrested in Wales in the U.K. with assistance from the British government.
Who is he and why was he on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List, many have asked.
The
46-year-old fugitive was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List in 2009
as he was wanted in connection with two animal rights-related bombings in
Northern California 20 years ago.
The FBI announced in 2009 that
San Diego was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list - the first
domestic terrorist to be included with international terrorists such as Usama
Bin Laden.
According to the FBI, his
domestic acts of terror were planned to destroy property, to cause economic
hardship for the companies he targeted, and possibly to take lives. One of his
bombs was laced with nails to create potentially deadly shrapnel. The FBI offered
a reward of up to $250,000 for information directly leading to his arrest.
At a press conference in 2009
at FBI Headquarters in Washington, Michael J. Heimbach, then-Assistant Director
of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, stated, “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.”
The FBI considers animal rights
and environmental extremism to pose a significant domestic terror threat.
The FBI in 2009 stated that San
Diego, known to be involved with a group called SHAC- Stop Huntingdon Animal
Cruelty- was wanted for his alleged involvement in bombing two biotech
facilities that did business with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that
conducts animal experimentation for the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
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“The first bombing occurred on
August 28, 2003, outside Chiron Life Science Center in Emeryville, California.
When authorities responded, a second bomb was discovered, but exploded before
it could be disarmed, raising the possibility that the device was planted
specifically to target first responders,” the FBI stated.
“Less than a month later,
another bomb exploded outside a company based in Pleasanton, California. That
bomb was made with metal nails to create more powerful shrapnel and
destruction. After each crime, claims of responsibly were posted on the
Internet demanding that businesses end their affiliation with Huntington Life
Sciences. Future violence was threatened if these demands were not met.
Fortunately, no one died in the explosions, but property damage was extensive.
“San Diego was initially
identified as a suspect after being stopped by a local police officer for a
minor traffic violation in Pleasanton about an hour before the Pleasonton
bombing. A subsequent search of his home and vehicle revealed bomb-making
materials similar to those used in both attacks and he was later indicted for
those crimes.”
San
Diego has been on the run since October 2003. The FBI in 2009 noted
that San Diego is six feet tall, weighs about 160 pounds, and has brown hair
and brown eyes. He wears glasses, is known to carry a 9mm handgun, has traveled
internationally, and may be living out of the country, possibly in Costa Rica.
“He is a vegan and avoids
consuming or wearing anything made with animal products. He also has
distinctive tattoos—one on his chest is round and shows burning hills and
plains with the words “It only takes a spark.””
In the past,
he has worked as a computer network specialist and with the operating system
LINUX.
“Daniel San Diego’s arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “There’s a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.”
Paul Davis’ Threatcon column covers crime, espionage and terrorism.
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