An animal rights extremist believed to be behind two bombings in Northern California more than 20 years ago has been arrested in Wales, authorities said Tuesday.
Daniel Andreas Sandiego, 46, was arrested on Monday by North Wales Police, National Crime Agency (NCA) and British Counter-Terrorism Police officers, the NCA said.
FBI Director Christopher Wray celebrated San Diego’s capture and said the suspect would eventually be held “accountable” for the act of “violence and destruction.”
“The arrest of Daniel San Diego, the first fugitive in more than 20 years for two San Francisco-area bombings, means that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable,” Wray said in a statement. “This indicates that we will pursue the following.”
San Diego has been linked to two homemade pipe bombs that occurred on Aug. 28, 2003, at the biotechnology company Chiron Corp. in Emeryville, across the bay from San Francisco.
He is also accused of sending a “nail bomb” to Shaklee, a nutrition company near Pleasanton, on September 26, 2003.
The FBI believed the Berkeley-born San Diego suspect had blown up the company because he was collaborating with another lab that was conducting animal experiments.
The FBI described San Diego as a vegan who worked as a computer network specialist.
“There is a right way and a wrong way to express your opinion in our country, and resorting to violence and destruction of property is not the right way,” Ray added.
No one was injured in the 2003 explosion.
Chiron was acquired by Novartis AG in 2005, and representatives for the Swiss pharmaceutical giant could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
“As a matter of policy, Shaklee Co. opposes and does not conduct animal testing of any kind on Shaklee products,” according to a statement on the California company’s website.
A spokesperson for Mr. Shackley also could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.
Michelle Acevedo and Polly DeFrank contributed.
