| Dozens of California SUVs
targeted by graffiti, fire - A Hummer and another automobile
were among those destroyed in a predawn blaze Friday in West Covina,
California: The Earth Liberation Front issued an e-mail Friday calling
the vandalization [property damage] "ELF actions."
(Note: 'Law enforcement' seems to be the most terrified of all: Seldom do they seem able to arrest and get a long-term prison sentence to stick to such criminals, and they fear recrimination from same.) August 23, 2003 By Nada El Sawy The Associated Press West Covina, California - Fires destroyed or damaged dozens of sport utility vehicles and burned a warehouse at an auto dealership Friday, and vehicles there and at three other dealerships were spray-painted with slogans such as "Fat, Lazy Americans." "With all the evidence, it's highly likely that it's an arson fire," said Rick Genovese, fire marshal for West Covina, a Los Angeles suburb. Another SUV was burned in front of a home. The radical group Earth Liberation Front issued an unsigned e-mail Friday calling the incidents "ELF actions," and the FBI was investigating the dealership fire as domestic terrorism, Police Chief Frank Wills said. The underground group has claimed responsibility for a slew of arsons against commercial entities that members say damage the environment. It is suspected in a multimillion-dollar arson fire Aug. 1 that destroyed a five-story apartment complex under construction in San Diego, though an ELF e-mail claimed the group had not been in contact with those responsible in that case. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating. Randy Parsons, assistant special agent with the Los Angeles FBI office, said there were possible leads in the SUV case but would not comment on the ELF claim. The blazes at the Clippinger Chevrolet dealership broke out about 5 a.m. Friday. Flames destroyed about 20 vehicles, mostly Hummer H2s, which are luxury SUVs patterned after the military's workhorse Humvee. Another 20 vehicles were badly damaged. A separate blaze caved in a warehouse roof. There were no reports of injuries, but damage was estimated at $1 million. SUVs at dealerships in nearby cities of Arcadia and Duarte were also vandalized. SUVs parked on residential streets in Monrovia, Calif., were tagged with "ELF" and other slogans, and another was set ablaze in front of a home, said Sgt. Tom Wright. http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/30823RCarDealership-Fire.html |