Summary
A London court ruled that Daniel San Diego can be sent to the United States to face trial over two bombings in California in 2003 that were claimed by militant animal rights groups. The judge concluded there was no evidence of improper political involvement or presidential interference that would prevent a fair trial.
Details of the ruling and charges
LONDON, Feb 6 - A British judge on Friday approved the extradition of an alleged animal rights extremist to the United States to face charges connected to bombings in California in 2003. The defendant, U.S. citizen Daniel San Diego, 47, is accused in relation to two separate incidents, both of which were claimed by the Revolutionary Cells of the Animal Liberation Brigade. Authorities say no one was injured in either explosion.
San Diego was located in Wales in November 2024 after having been listed on the FBI’s most-wanted terrorist list since 2009. The listing noted he was the first domestic terrorist to be placed on that list, alongside others including the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Defence lawyers had argued during extradition proceedings that San Diego could not obtain a fair trial if returned to the United States. They cited concerns over "the political capture of the criminal justice system" and the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump.
Judge Samuel Goozee rejected those arguments in his ruling, finding "no evidence of any improper political involvement in (San Diego’s) case or any evidence of any presidential interference in (San Diego’s) case, now or in the future" and ordered that the extradition proceed.
Allegations and incidents
The first attack San Diego is charged with involved a bombing at biotechnology company Chiron Inc., near Oakland, California, in August 2003. Responding officials discovered a second explosive device at the scene, which the FBI said may have been intended to target first responders.
At the time, the Animal Liberation Brigade issued a statement saying: "This is the endgame for the animal killers and if you choose to stand with them you will be dealt with accordingly." A month later, a nail bomb detonated outside nutritional products company Shaklee, an attack also claimed by the Animal Liberation Brigade.
Lawyers representing U.S. authorities told the court that the companies targeted by the 2003 attacks had connections to British firm Huntingdon Life Sciences, which had been the focus of both lawful and criminal protests over testing of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and dyes on animals.
Context for readers
The court ruling allows U.S. prosecutors to pursue trial proceedings in relation to the two 2003 bombings. The judgement turned on whether there was evidence of political or executive branch interference sufficient to bar extradition, a claim the judge found unsupported by the record presented to him.
The legal process now moves toward transfer and subsequent proceedings in the U.S. justice system.