Police in Great Britain suspect animal rights extremists may have been involved in an arson attack on two trucks at a meat processing plant in Great Britain.
Originally police suspected a pair of arsonists currently terrorizing trucks in Great Britain, but now say they believe animal rights activists were likely behind a fire that destroyed the two truck at the Baron of Beef plant.
Company president George Wallace told The Evening Chronicle,
I think it is more likely that this was a strike against the meat industry by extremists. I have had things like dead rats sent to me in the post.
They got in before our security guard came on duty, but I am now electrifying the fence and getting 24-hour protection.
Regardless of who is responsible, the fire illustrates just how dangerous this sort of fire can be. Around 8:20 p.m. the arsonists entered the compound and set fire to a refrigerated truck filled with meat. The flames from that fire then spread to a second truck.
Fifteen firefighters spent nearly two hours bringing the blazed under control. This was especially important, because a factory near the fire contains cylinders of compressed cyanide which is commonly used in a variety of industrial chemical processes. That fire that involved just one meat truck at first, in fact created a high risk not only for the firefighters but for everyone in a several mile radius.
Source:
Cops in arson probe as meat trailers hit. The Evening Chronicle, November 12, 2002.