ELF LIKELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT FIRES IN SNOHOMISH WASHINGTON, CAUSES $1 MILLION IN DAMAGES 4/22/04 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

WASHINGTON - Through media reports, the ELF Press Office has been made aware of Earth Liberation Front actions against urban sprawl April 20th and 21st. Although the ELF Press Office has received no communications about these actions from the persons responsible, a note found at the site of one of the fires was signed "ELF" and reportedly contained statements condemning suburban developments. In the absence of other information, this note does indicate a claim of responsibility for the fires and fire attempts by ELF activists.

On Tuesday, April 20th, two homes were destroyed and attempts were made to burn two others at a housing development in the Snohomish area. Total damages were estimated at $1 million for the two houses burned to the ground.

As well, bottles of flammable liquid were found at two different housing development sites on Tuesday and Wednesday, and on at least one occasion a letter claiming responsibility was found.

This is the third action in 2004 known to have been the work of the Earth Liberation Front. Other occurences of ELF actions in response to the encroachment of luxury housing on wild space since include fires in San Diego, California (August 2003); Chico, California (June 2003); Macomb County, Michigan (June 2003), and Superior Township, Michigan (April 2003).

Although there has been no statement by ELF activists made public about the recent action in Snohomish, a communique sent after the fires in Macomb County read in part, "For too long, we, the people... have allowed our magnificent forests to be levelled and shipped off, our water to be poisoned and now, greed driven developers are trying to marginalize off the last green spaces and habitat of our unknown Edens." It is clear from past statements and recent actions of the ELF that urban sprawl has become a central issue in the struggle to protect the earth.

The Earth Liberation Front is an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the destruction of the natural environment. Since 1997, the ELF in North America has caused over $100 million in damages to entities who profit from the destruction of life and the planet.

Any communications received by the ELF Press Office will be forwarded on to interested members of the press.

The Earth Liberation Front Press Office is an autonomous entity that serves to Publicize news and actions of the ELF, as reported through news media or by anonymous communications from the individuals involved in activities.

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Contact: North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office
elfpress@resist.ca
www.earthliberationfront.com