A suspected animal rights extremist wanted in the US for bombings in the San Francisco area has been apprehended in Britain after more than two decades evading authorities. Daniel Andreas San Diego, aged 46, was arrested in a rural area in northern Wales on Monday, according to the National Crime Agency. He appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and is facing extradition.
San Diego is accused of planting two bombs that detonated on the campus of a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California, in August 2003. Another bomb, equipped with nails, was set off at a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, the following month. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although the bomb at the biotechnology company was intended to harm first responders.
The Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombings, targeting companies associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences due to their involvement in animal testing for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized that San Diego's arrest demonstrates the agency's commitment to holding fugitives accountable for their actions, regardless of the time elapsed. San Diego, who was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List in 2009, had a reward of $250,000 offered for information leading to his capture.
San Diego, who grew up in a privileged suburb of Marin County, was described as a computer network specialist, skilled sailor, and gun carrier. Despite being under FBI surveillance in 2003, he managed to evade authorities after disappearing in a San Francisco transit station.
The arrest took place in a remote area near woods in Conwy, Wales, approximately 5,000 miles away from San Francisco. Further details regarding the arrest were not disclosed by the NCA.
