Animal Liberation Front claims responsibility for UCLA van fire

In a statement released Friday morning, an animal activist group claimed responsibility for setting a UCLA vanpool vehicle on fire.

The Animal Liberation Front, whose credo on its Web site reads, “direct action against animal abuses … usually through the damage and destruction of property,” sent out a statement to Bite Back Magazine claiming responsibility for the incident.

“It is unacceptable for us to see, hear, and know what is going on in our animal labs without taking action,” the statement said. “For all of those affected, you have the UCLA vivisection program to blame,” it also said.

On the morning of June 3, the unoccupied vehicle was at a park-and-ride facility in Irvine when city fire and police officials responded to the fire after 3 a.m., officials said. Nobody was injured, but the damage to the van was extensive.

University officials in the past have stated that UCLA’s animal testing program is in compliance with all standards and that all animals have been treated humanely.

Nancy Greenstein, director of community services for university police, said the department received the notice of the event this morning and opened up a joint investigation with federal authorities to investigate ALF.

“There’s an ongoing investigation on ALF on charges of terrorism,” she said.

Meanwhile, in a press statement released Friday afternoon, Chancellor Gene Block strongly condemned the actions as acts of terrorism.

“I am deeply disturbed that, yet again, extremists have resorted to acts of violence in an attempt to achieve their goal to end all laboratory research involving animals,” Block said. “In this most recent apparent act of terror against UCLA, the extremists have crossed yet another threshold and directed violence at individuals and property not associated with animal research.”

Jerry Vlasak, a spokesman for the North American Animal Liberation Press office, which works as a press outlet for animal rights activist groups including ALF, defended the actions of the group. He said groups such as ALF were growing frustrated with a lack of progress.

“We endorse whatever actions are necessary to stop the torturing of these innocent apes,” Vlasak said. “We understand the frustrations of organizations like the Animal Liberation Front, and we do indeed support these tactics when peaceful process has failed.”

Vlasak did acknowledge that peaceful “above-ground activism” was preferable through grassroots fliering and protests. But he added that the public often unfairly blurs the line between those who pass out fliers and those who blow up cars.

ALF in recent history has had a strained relationship with UCLA faculty and staff. In June 2007, the group claimed responsibility for a failed attempt to firebomb Professor Arthur Rosenbaum’s car, and in October, activists claimed responsibility for flooding Professor Edythe London’s home.

“UCLA is a poster child for the egregious acts going on in universities,” Vlasak said, referencing harsh treatment of animals.

UCLA, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies are offering a $170,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attempted firebombing.

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