Posted on 05/01/2007 6:11:15 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi
Police today launched the biggest ever crackdown on animal rights extremists, raiding 30 homes across Britain and Europe.
More than 300 officers from at least four forces executed search warrants in a series of co-ordinated dawn raids.
Protesters outside the Huntingdon Life Sciences Centre in Cambridgeshire
The authorities are determined to round up militants they believe have orchestrated terror campaigns against scientists and contractors involved in animal research at laboratories, universities and research institutions.
Today's operation was led by four forces in the South-East - Surrey, Hampshire, Thames Valley and Kent - with officers also involved from other forces in Britain and Europe.
A police spokeswoman said today: “Police officers are executing warrants to enter and search premises at 30 addresses throughout the UK and Europe.
“The warrants have been obtained as part of an investigation into criminal activity associated with animal rights extremism. This is a substantial police operation.
“There is ongoing police activity at the addresses and officers are working with the local communities to minimise any disruption.”
Animal rights activists have conducted a series of terror campaigns over recent years, often using an American-based website to boast of their attacks.
Today's raids are thought likely to be linked to a concerted effort to shut down Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), an animal testing laboratory based in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, which has become the focus of activists' activities.
Militants have targeted a number of firms who have business deals with HLS, vandalising houses and cars.
They have also attacked pharmaceutical companies in recent years, sometimes planting incendiary devices on the doorsteps of company executives.
Oxford University became a prime target after pressing ahead with a £20 million animal research laboratory.
Contractors have been attacked and a college boathouse was set on fire, causing damage estimated at £500,000.
Terror cells are thought to have operated in the Sussex region for some time. Security sources have previously suggested Brighton as a location for one of the more active units.
A spokeswoman for Hampshire police, which is leading the media operation, refused to be drawn on specific details concerning today's raids.
“It's ongoing,” was all she would say, citing “operational reasons”.
These little misfit pukes don’t live in the real world. These are the types that cried as kids watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, and could never, under any circumstances harvest animals for food. Yet, they have no problem unleashing hate and violence on fellow humans. These folks are completely busted and depend on stronger people for all of life’s necessities. They are parasites.
No, they are liberals.
i can’t see why they aren’t treated as terrorists.
terrorism- “the use of violence and intimidation to achieve political ends”
while its not very nice to have animals experimented on, I would rather my species advances in medical care, and scientific knowledge. Experimental medicines and sciences have to be tested on something, so if not animals, then what? Humans?
Its an insult to liberal thought to mention them in the same breath, they are just the bottom rung of the ladder.
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