Eco-terrorism strikes US city

Seattle News.Net
Monday 3rd March, 2008

An eco-terrorist attack has occurred in the city of Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.

Five luxury houses were set ablaze in an estate north of the city.

A sign with the words 'ELF,' which officials say may mean "Earth Liberation Front" was found at the scene. ELF has been designated an eco-terrorist group by the FBI, which describes eco-terrorism as, "the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature."

'Built green? Nope black!' the sign reads, according to an image broadcast by CNN affiliate KING-TV in Seattle. The sign calls the homes 'McMansions.'

John Heller, president of Seattle Street of Dreams, told CNN he had spoken to the fire chief and was told that the fires were suspicious.

'My understanding is that it was an act of terror,' Heller said.

The FBI said the fires are being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism.

Heller said he was out of town on business and was rushing back to see what was left of the development. He said it was a new subdivision that featured luxury homes priced around $2 million each.

Seattle's Street of Dreams is 'the most popular and highest attended single site luxury home and garden tour in the U.S.,' according to the event's Web site.

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