Animal rights extremist arrested in connection to Bay Area bombings after 20 years on the run
Nov 26, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A 46-year-old Berkeley man who the Federal Bureau of Investigation said is responsible for two terrorist bombings in the San Francisco Bay Area more than 20 years ago has been arrested, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Tuesday.
Daniel San Diego had been on the run since his indictment in July 2004 and was considered to be one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. Authorities believe that San Diego, who has ties to animal rights extremist groups, was involved in two bombing incidents that unfolded in August and September of 2023 in Emeryville and Pleasanton.
Daniel San Diego (Photo: FBI)
On Aug. 28, 2003, two bombs exploded on the campus of Chiron, a biotechnology company in Emeryville. The two explosions occurred approximately one hour apart, according to the FBI. No one was injured in the blasts, but authorities believe that the intention was to harm first responders.
On Sept. 26, 2003, a bomb that was strapped with nails exploded at Shaklee, a nutritional products company in Pleasanton. No injuries were reported from the explosion.
A group called Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombings, citing the companies’ ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences. Huntingdon was a target of animal rights extremists because of its work with experimental drugs and chemicals on animals while under contract for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other companies.
FILE - A photo of Daniel Andreas San Diego, top right, appears on a poster of the FBI's most wanted terrorists during a news conference announcing his addition to the most wanted terrorist list, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at FBI Headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)
In 2009, San Diego became the first person suspected of domestic terrorism to be added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.
San Diego was arrested on Monday at a property in Wales, according to the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency. He appeared in a London courtroom on Tuesday and faces extradition.
In a statement Tuesday, FBI Director Wray said of the bombings, “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.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.