Federal Horse Corral Firebombed

Associated Press/October 30, 2001

Reno, Nevada -- A radical environmental group that is against roundups of wild horses is claiming responsibility for the firebombing of a government barn.

No horses were injured in the blaze Oct. 15 at a U.S. Bureau of Land Management corral near Susanville, Calif.

A communique claiming to be from the Earth Liberation Front was received Monday at the Animal Liberation Front in Canada, ALF spokesman David Barbarash said. He said he has been acting as a spokesman for the ELF.

ELF claimed responsibility for setting "four timed incendiary devices aimed at destroying two barns, two vehicles and one office building.'' The firebombing was done "in opposition to the Bureau of Land Management's continued war against the Earth,'' the ELF message read.

One firebomb started a blaze that destroyed a barn full of hay, causing $85,000 in damage. Bomb squads disarmed the three other incendiary devices.

"While some elements of this claim appear consistent with the facts, there are others that do not,'' FBI special agent Nick Rossi said Tuesday from Sacramento, Calif. "We have not made a firm determination about this particular claim. We are giving it very serious consideration.''

ELF and ALF have claimed responsibility for dozens of acts of sabotage across the country, including a 1998 blaze at a Vail, Colo., ski resort that caused $12 million damage.