Report on UK farm arson (Lincolnshire Echo)‏
Sent: July 23, 2010 1:02:20 PM
NOTE: The Bite Back site is presently down, but the MFAH communique
was put out out on Wed. July 21. The post is included at the
bottom of the article.
Lincolnshire Echo
Animal rights group claims responsibility for arson attack at Highgate Farm
Friday, July 23, 2010
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/crim...il/article.html A MILITANT animal rights group has claimed responsibility for an arson
attack at a rabbit farm in Lincolnshire.
It is understood that police are looking closely at the chilling claim
after a white Mercedes Sprinter van was set on fire at the premises in
Normanby-by-Spital, near Market Rasen.
Firefighters attended the blaze in yard at Highgate Farm at about
2.20am on Monday.
The farm, which supplies rabbits to Huntingdon Life Sciences'
Cambridgeshire lab, has been the targeted by animal rights extremists
twice before.
Now it appears a group called Militant Forces Against Huntingdon Life
Sciences (MFAH) says the attack was its handiwork.
According to the website of the Austrian Times, the Austrian branch of
MFAH last year admitted torching a Tyrolean hunting lodge, the owner
of which has connections with Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Bite Back magazine, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, which
publishes news of animal rights direct action, say it has received an
anonymous claim of responsibility for the incident at Highgate Farm,
apparently from MFAH.
"In the early hours of Monday, July 19, Highgate Farm in Lincolnshire,
UK, was visited and information was gathered to be used in the future
against this lab animal breeder," the disturbing and offensive
statement, which appears on the magazine's website, says.
"But before leaving we wanted to make sure that Geoffrey Douglas, the
owner of the farm, was left under no illusion to what we think, and to
remind him that we're not bothered by his noisy alarm system or his
security lights – thanks, it helped us see where your delivery vans
were.
"We lit up the night sky in our own way as flames engulfed the vehicles.
"You are quite isolated on Highgate Lane and we're sure to return and
leave more messages until you do the right thing and pull out once and
for all.
"This is just a little warning. If we have to come back again the next
time we will not be so nice. You only have one choice, make it soon.
For the animals we will fight. MFAH."
Mr Douglas stressed he ran a legitimate business, the activity of
which is regulated by the Home Office.
"Most of our animals go for the development of vaccines for animals
and people," he said.
"This includes the development of flu vaccines around the world. We
consider we do a very important job for the NHS. As far as we are
concerned, we are helping to save tens of thousands of lives."
Anyone with any information on the arson, should call police on 0300 111 0300.