Animal-rights groups, such as the Animal Liberation Front, have intensified their actions in recent years -- even setting bombs and fires at research facilities -- and the FBI now considers them to be one of the biggest domestic terrorist threats.

An FBI agent recently briefed Caroline Loew, senior vice president for science and regulatory affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, on the efforts the agency is taking to thwart the animal rights groups, PhRMA spokesman Jeff Trewhitt told UPI.

"Basically, what they're saying is get to know your regional FBI coordinator," Trewhitt said. "If any company perceives a threat from an animal terrorist, even if it's a minor, verbal threat, they should contact that local FBI office right away," he added.

In an interview with the Sunday edition of "60 Minutes," John Lewis, deputy assistant director for counter-terrorism at the FBI, said the bureau is aware of more than 1,000 attacks by animal-rights and eco-terrorist groups that have resulted in over $100 million in damages.

Jerry Vlasak, a trauma surgeon in Los Angeles who represents several extreme animal-rights groups, was also interviewed by "60 Minutes," and he urged activists to do whatever it takes to stop animal experiments, even if that includes killing researchers.

Vlasak told UPI he didn't mean to imply that activists should kill researchers, only that "it would be a morally justifiable tactic if everything else failed."

He added, "What we're doing now hasn't been working, so maybe its time to try something different."

Americans for Medical Progress, an industry-supported group based in Alexandria, Va., said in a statement that Vlasak's "call to assassinate research scientists ... is a call to action for Congress to give law enforcement the powers necessary to investigate and arrest those who would carry out such crimes."

AMP President Jacquie Calnan told UPI that animal-rights groups have intensified their attacks and have shifted their tactics to inflicting economic damage upon companies that conduct research on animals. The groups also have started targeting executives of companies and their families, including vandalizing their homes and stealing personal information such as credit-card and bank information and posting it on Web sites, she said.

"We're seeing a new generation of animal-rights activists," Calnan said. "The threats are intensifying and the personal nature of the threats are intensifying,"

The FBI's Lewis testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in October that the bureau needed changes to existing laws in order to stop activists who target individual employees or attempt to damage a company financially.

Legislation called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act has been introduced in both the House and Senate that addresses some of the difficulties in prosecuting animal-rights activists who use these tactics. The bill is not likely to pass this year, and parties on both sides are concerned it may infringe upon free-speech rights granted under the First Amendment.

Lewis cited a group based in Worcestershire, England, called Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty as having been "quite effective" at using these tactics to disrupt the operations of the animal-testing firm Huntingdon Life Sciences. More than 100 companies, including major pharmaceutical firms such as Johnson & Johnson and Merck, severed ties with Huntingdon.

The FBI has had some success against SHAC, getting criminal indictments in New Jersey against the organization and seven of its national leaders on charges of animal enterprise terrorism, conspiracy and interstate stalking. A federal grand jury also indicted the seven leaders because of information posted on SHAC's Web site that resulted in vandalism, harassment and intimidation of companies and their employees. The trial is scheduled for February.

Frankie Trull, president of the Washington-based National Association of Biomedical Research, a group supported by industry, said she doubted the trial of the SHAC leaders would have much impact on the activists.

"The campaigns have been too successful," Trull told UPI.

UPI was unable to contact SHAC for comment on this story because the number listed on SHAC's Web site for its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia was disconnected.

The NABR maintains a database of illegal actions it says animal-rights extremists have taken against companies around the world. The database includes 57 incidences so far this year, with U.S. actions ranging from filling out magazine subscription cards for executives of companies that do business with Huntingdon to spray painting and vandalizing homes of pharmaceutical executives to stealing research animals.

Trull said companies could consider moving their research facilities to other countries with a less hostile environment.

"Ultimately, you will see research and development move offshore if the environment is not safe," she said.

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