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In partnership
with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation,
The
Building Industry
Association
of Washington
(BIAW) has announced
that it is offering
up to $100,000
for the identification
of and information
leading to the
arrest and conviction
of individuals
responsible
for criminal
acts in the
state claimed
by the Earth
Liberation Front
(ELF).
ELF is a
radical environmental
organization
whose members
utilize economic
sabotage and
property destruction
to call attention
to suburban
“sprawl.”
In recent
years, the
radical terrorists
of the organization’s
militia have
started burning
down new residential
construction.
“While
ELF used to
spike trees
and sabotage
logging equipment,
they’re
now firebombing
neighborhoods
and burning
down apartment
complexes,”
said Lyle
Fox, president
of the association.
“ELF’s
increasingly
brazen attacks
on urban targets
have BIAW
and the FBI
worried that
it is only
a matter of
time before
someone is
hurt or killed
by ELF terrorists.”
While ELF
has targeted
cities around
the country,
the West Coast
has been particularly
hard hit.
In Washington
alone, ELF
terrorists
have embarked
upon an arson
spree that
has caused
nearly $8
million in
property damage
since 1996.
Much of the
damage has
occurred in
residential
developments.
California
has sustained
more than
$53 million
in damage,
and Oregon
has been hit
with more
than $3 million
in losses.
Nationally,
ELF has claimed
responsibility
for acts of
sabotage in
14 states
that have
destroyed
nearly $100
million in
property.
Capturing
ELF terrorists
in the Pacific
Northwest
is one of
the FBI’s
top priorities.
Many law enforcement
officials
believe that
some members
of ELF are
becoming disillusioned
with the group’s
increasingly
violent and
aggressive
tactics, but
they are not
motivated
to turn on
their comrades.
Builders
in Washington
are hoping
that offering
a financial
incentive
to these disaffected
members could
provide the
motivation
that thus
far has been
lacking.
“BIAW
hopes that
providing
the $100,000
reward for
the arrest
and conviction
of ELF terrorists
will assist
the FBI in
capturing
these criminals,”
said Fox.
The association
is posting
reward posters
at various
locations
around the
state.
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