A fugitive wanted in the US for a pair of bombings is arrested in the UK after 20 years on the run
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A fugitive wanted in the U.S. for bombings in the San Francisco area has been arrested in the UK after more than 20 years on the run. Daniel Andreas San Diego, a suspected animal rights extremist, was taken into custody Monday in a rural part of northern Wales, the National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed. He appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody pending extradition.
San Diego, 46, was wanted in connection with two bombings that took place in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003. On August 28, San Diego allegedly planted two bombs that exploded within an hour of each other on the campus of a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California. A month later, he was also linked to another bombing at a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, which involved a bomb with nails strapped to it.
Though no one was injured in the bombings, authorities said the blast at the biotechnology company was intended to target first responders. The Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade, an animal rights extremist group, claimed responsibility for the bombings. The group justified the attacks by citing the companies’ links to Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that conducts animal testing for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries. Animal rights extremists have long targeted Huntingdon due to its controversial practices.
San Diego’s arrest comes after more than two decades of evading authorities. In 2009, the FBI added him to its Most Wanted Terrorist List, marking him as the first suspect of domestic terrorism to be placed on that list. The FBI also offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to his capture, and his image appeared on billboards and in public places across the U.S., including New York’s Times Square. San Diego was also featured on the TV program America’s Most Wanted several times.
FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a statement on Tuesday, praising the arrest and reaffirming the FBI’s commitment to pursuing fugitives no matter how long it takes. “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,” Wray said. “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.”
San Diego was born and raised in Marin County, a wealthy suburban area north of San Francisco. His father was the city manager of Belvedere, a neighboring affluent community. San Diego had worked as a computer network specialist and was known for his sailing skills. Authorities also noted that he was known to carry a handgun.
After the bombings, San Diego was placed under FBI surveillance. On October 6, 2003, agents were tracking him when he parked his car near downtown San Francisco and disappeared into a transit station, never to be seen again. His disappearance sparked a worldwide manhunt, with sightings reported from various locations, including across the United States, as well as in international locations as far apart as Massachusetts and Hawaii.
San Diego’s arrest occurred in the Conwy area of Wales, located on the country’s northern coast, roughly 5,000 miles from San Francisco. The NCA did not release further details about his capture, but his arrest marks a significant step in closing the chapter on his long-running fugitive status.
This case serves as a reminder of the FBI’s dedication to pursuing justice, even for fugitives who have been on the run for decades. It also highlights the ongoing issue of domestic terrorism and the use of violence by extremists to further political and ideological causes.
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