Federal agents have been targeting Animal Rights activists in the Bay Area — arresting one, following and detaining others, raiding two homes, and posting a new bulletin for a "wanted" suspect. Peter Young was arrested on March 21st in San Jose. Federal officials have accused him of freeing some 8,000 mink from fur farms in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa. He had been sought since 1998 after being indicted, along with Justin Samuel, on charges of violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. He now faces up to 82 years in prison. Justin Samuel was caught by authorities in 1999. After agreeing to implicate Peter Young in a plea agreement, Samuel eventually served two years in prison and is now free and living in San Diego. Despite repeated efforts to reintegrate himself into the animal rights movement, activists have shunned Samuel as untrustworthy and a snitch.

At 6am, Sunday April 10th, members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI, ATF, Secret Service, Coast Guard, and local police raided activist homes with guns drawn. Since the arrest of Peter Young in Santa Clara County, there have been increasing levels of activity by the Feds in the counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz. The scope of the warrants issued suggests that their primary emphasis is on targeting people who are doing support work for Peter. All materials related to his support campaign found at the homes were seized, and people who have visited Peter in jail, or attended court dates have been followed.

Meanwhile, the FBI is still looking for Daniel Andreas San Diego, their prime suspect in the 2003 bombings of two East Bay companies targeted by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC). Last week, an updated bulletin seeking his arrest was posted and distributed widely across the mainstream media regarding new information the FBI has apparently gathered regarding distinctive tattoos. The source of the information is unknown at this time.

SupportPeter.com · Related Reports: 1 | 2
Reports on San Diego and East Bay Bombings: 1 | 2 | 3
Reports on SHAC Arrests Last Year and More: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6