Daniel Andreas San Diego (born February 9, 1978) is an American domestic terrorism suspect who is listed on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list. He is a straight edge vegan environmentalist and animal liberationist who the FBI believes has unspecified ties to an Animal Liberation Brigade cell responsible for two bombings in 2003. San Diego is also believed by the FBI to have ties to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty.[1][2][3][4]
In November 2024, San Diego was arrested near Conwy, Wales, by the UK's National Crime Agency, after more than 20 years on the run.[5]
Background
editSan Diego was born on February 9, 1978 in Berkeley, California, and grew up in San Rafael, California. He attended Terra Linda High School.[6] He took classes at College of Marin and worked at San Rafael High School's radio station, KSRH, listening to heavy metal and rock music. As a young man, he gave up drugs, alcohol, meat, and milk products, taking an interest in the straight edge movement and becoming vegan.[1][2]
At the time of the bombings, he lived in Schellville, California, a small community outside of Sonoma, where he worked as a computer specialist.[7][8] His landlord described him as "very nice and personable," mentioned his claim to be starting a new business venture of vegan marshmallows made without gelatin, and said that he had never given the impression of holding radical views on animal rights. The FBI claims this was all an act.[2]
The FBI says that as a San Francisco Bay Area animal rights activist San Diego has ties to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), an international campaign against Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), Europe's largest drug and chemical animal testing laboratory.[9] Before the related bombings, SHAC targeted HLS customer Chiron and its employees with a series of actions, accusing them of being "puppy killers."[1][9]
Animal Liberation Brigade
editOn August 28, 2003, two sophisticated homemade bombs exploded approximately one hour apart, at the Chiron Corporation in Emeryville, California, causing minor property damage but no injuries.[1][10] The FBI believes the second bomb was timed to target first responders.[11] Another bomb, wrapped with nails to produce shrapnel, exploded on September 26, 2003 at the Shaklee Corporation in Pleasanton, California, again causing damage but no casualties.[12] The bombs used ammonium nitrate explosives and mechanical timers.[13]
A group called the Revolutionary Cells – Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility via an email message after each bombing.[3] FBI agents admit that they cannot prove San Diego has ties to the emails, but believe he has ties to the group that sent them.[2][12] The FBI stated San Diego is suspected of having carried out the bombing.[14]: 15 The bombing targets were chosen because they were both clients of Huntingdon Life Sciences.[9]
Disappearance
editThe FBI had San Diego under 24-hour surveillance in 2003.[15] He discovered that he was being watched and on October 6, 2003 parked his car in downtown San Francisco, California, walked away, and never returned.[2]
Most Wanted
editDaniel Andreas San Diego was indicted in 2004.[12] He became the first domestic terrorism suspect to be added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List,[16] and first animal rights activist.[17] In 2014, as part of the FBI's National Digital Billboard Initiative, San Diego was to be featured on electronic billboards throughout California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nevada, and Florida, and along the US-Canada border in New York and Washington State.[18] At one point, the FBI believed he was in the Northampton, Massachusetts, area. In early 2014, the FBI announced that they had "credible intelligence" that San Diego might be on Hawaii's Big Island.[19]
San Diego was profiled on America's Most Wanted five times after his disappearance.[2]
As of February 2022[update], a reward of up to US$250,000 was available for information that leads to the arrest of San Diego.[12]
Capture
editOn November 25, 2024,[20] Daniel Andreas San Diego was captured in Maenan, near Llanrwst (Conwy) North Wales (United Kingdom). He then appeared in court in London for extradition to the U.S. to face outstanding terrorist charges.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Joseph Abrams (2008-09-18). "Wanted: Daniel Andreas San Diego for Eco-Terror Bombings". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- ^ a b c d e f "Daniel San Diego - Fugitive". America's Most Wanted. August 30, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009.
- ^ a b "FBI's newest 'Most Wanted' terrorist is American". AP Article. April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009.
- ^ "FBI — Be part of the solution". FBI. Archived from the original on 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
- ^ "One of FBI's most wanted 'terrorists' caught in Wales after more than 20 years on the run". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ FBI San Francisco. "Marin Man Added to FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' List". Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ Henry K. Lee (2009-04-21). "Alleged bomber added to FBI terror list". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
- ^ "FBI's newest 'Most Wanted' terrorist is American". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c Leonard Doyle in Washington (24 April 2009). "Animal rights activist added to FBI's most wanted terrorist list". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ Stacy Finz (2003-08-29). "2 bombs shatter biotech firm's windows". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
- ^ Eric Thomas (2009-04-21). "'Most Wanted' terrorist from Bay Area". ABC 7 News. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
- ^ a b c d "FBI — DANIEL ANDREAS SAN DIEGO". FBI. Archived from the original on 2010-09-19. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ Terry Frieden (April 21, 2009). "Animal rights activist on FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' list". CNN. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ^ "Terrorism Report - 2002-2005". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
- ^ "Marin County animal rights extremist added to the FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' list". 20 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ^ Ho, Vivian (December 13, 2013). "Daniel Andreas San Diego listed on FBI's most wanted". SFGate. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ "Animal rights activist on FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' list". edition.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-13. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
- ^ "Billboards in Seven States to Feature Fugitive Daniel Andreas San Diego". FBI. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on October 20, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ Elias, Paul. "Daniel Andreas San Diego, The FBI's Most Wanted Domestic Terror Suspect, May Be In Hawaii". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ Dearden, Chris; Slow, Oliver (27 November 2024). "US bomb suspect in Wales for years - investigators". BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Norman, Greg (November 26, 2024). "FBI's 'Most Wanted' fugitive in 2003 Bay Area bombings arrested in Wales". FOX KTVU. Retrieved November 26, 2024.