Fugitive animal rights extremist, California bomber captured after 20 years
Nov 26, 2024
An animal rights extremist believed to behind a series of California bombings was arrested in the United Kingdom after more than 20 years on the run, the FBI announced Tuesday.
Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was arrested by North Wales Police, the National Crime Agency and the Counter Terrorism Police on Monday, the NCA said. He was captured in a rural, wooded area near the town of Conwy, the agency said.
San Diego is accused of detonating homemade explosives at companies he believed were conducting experiments on animal in 2003.
On Aug. 28 of that year, two homemade pipe bombs went off at biomedical company Chiron Corp. in Emeryville, just outside Oakland, Calif.
A month later, a “bomb strapped with nails” went off at nutritional company Shaklee Corp. in Pleasanton, also in the Bay Area.
San Diego disappeared shortly thereafter when a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.
In 2004, a federal grand injury indicted him on counts of destroying or attempting to destroy property with explosives, and two counts of use of a destructive device in a crime of violence.
While no one was injured in the blasts, San Diego was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2009.
“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,” Wray said.
San Diego is expected to be extradited to the U.S. in the near future.