Animal-rights extremists are claiming responsibility for an arson attack on an Oxford University boathouse which caused an estimated £500,000 (US$865,000) damage.
The attack comes after the Guardian newspaper revealed last month that activists have unleashed a campaign of arson in a return to tactics of the 1980s in response to the UK government's attempts to clamp down on their activities.
In the latest assault 24 rowing boats were destroyed and much of the interior of the Hertford College boathouse on the River Thames at Oxford University was damaged after arsonists broke into the riverside building and poured about 11 liters of gasoline over the property inside.
A source close to the inquiry said an estimated £500,000 damage had been caused.
Boats belonging to Hertford and four other colleges, St Catherine's, Mansfield, St Hilda's and Templeton were destroyed.
In a posting on Wednesday on the Bite Back magazine Web site, the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the raid.
Oxford University is being targeted in a campaign to stop the building of a new primate laboratory on the university site. Work was halted last year when the main contractors Montpellier pulled out after receiving threats from animal extremists.
It is understood a new contractor has been found but work has yet to restart on the site in the center of Oxford.
Oxford University, working with the government, has drawn up plans to reduce the chances that the new builders will be identified and targeted when they start work again.
In its claim on the website the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) said: "On July 4 an Animal Liberation Front cell travelled to Oxford armed with incendiary devices containing approximately 11 liters of petrol. At approximately 11pm they broke into Oxford University's Hertford College boathouse and deployed the devices among the boats. Before leaving they re-padlocked the door and glued all the locks to avoid the possibility of people entering before the devices ignited."
The posting read: "The reason for the attack was as follows: Oxford University's holdings now own the contract to build the South Parks lab. As far as the ALF are concerned this means that Oxford University as a whole must accept the consequences. From here on nothing you own, rent or have dealings with is off limits until the project is scrapped. To warn builders and suppliers that they are going to get some, even if their involvement comes to light years later, we will not let you off the hook!"
The posting went on to say that the arson attack was dedicated to a number of animal-rights activists who are in UK jails. Thames Valley police, who cover Oxford, said they were aware that a claim of responsibility had been made by the ALF and were including that in their inquiry.
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