Fugitive Arrested After 20 Years on the Run for San Francisco Area Bombings
Arrest and Court Appearance
A suspect wanted in the U.S. for two bombings in the San Francisco area appeared in a London courtroom Tuesday after being captured following a 20-year run from the law, officials said. Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, was arrested Monday in a rural area in northern Wales, the National Crime Agency said. He was ordered held in custody after the court appearance in Westminster Magistrates’ Court and faces extradition.
Background of the Case
San Diego is charged in the U.S. with planting two bombs that exploded about an hour apart on August 28, 2003, on the campus of a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California. He’s also accused of setting off another bomb at a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, a month later. The bombings didn’t injure anyone, but authorities said the biotechnology bomb was intended to harm first responders.
Motive and Alleged Involvement
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.
FBI Investigation
The FBI had San Diego under surveillance when he parked his car near downtown San Francisco on October 6, 2003, and disappeared into a transit station. The agency didn’t see him again, though it said there were numerous sightings reported around the world. In 2009, San Diego became the first person suspected of domestic terrorism to be added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.
Captivity and Arrest
The NCA said it arrested San Diego at a property near woods in the Conwy area of Wales, which is near the coast. No other details were provided.
FBI Director’s Statement
"FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement, "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. 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."
Conclusion
Daniel Andreas San Diego’s arrest after 20 years on the run brings an end to a lengthy investigation into the San Francisco area bombings. The FBI’s dedication to finding and holding accountable those who engage in violence and destruction is a reminder that justice will ultimately prevail.
FAQs
Q: What were the bombings that San Diego is accused of?
A: San Diego is accused of setting off two bombs at a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California, and a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, in 2003.
Q: Who claimed responsibility for the bombings?
A: A group called Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombings, citing the companies’ ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Q: How long was San Diego on the run?
A: San Diego was on the run for approximately 20 years before his arrest in Wales.
