FBI finally nabs one of the “Most Wanted Terrorists” behind 2003 San Francisco bombings

12/13/2024 / By Zoey Sky

On Nov. 26, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that one of the bureau’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” was finally caught by officials in the United Kingdom for bombings committed in San Francisco in 2003.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, is considered one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives. The British National Crime Agency reported that the suspect was apprehended on Nov. 25 in a remote area near Maenan in the Conwy Valley in Conwy County Borough in northern Wales.

San Diego was held in custody after appearing on Nov. 26 in Westminster Magistrates’ Court and faces extradition.

San Diego, who hails from Berkeley, California, has been charged in the United States with planting two bombs that exploded in the early morning of Aug. 28, 2003, at the Chiron Corporation, a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California. The explosions caused no injuries and minor property damage.

He is also accused of setting off another bomb with nails strapped to it at Shaklee Corporation, a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, in September of the same year.

In a statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that San Diego’s arrest “after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area” has confirmed that no matter how long it takes, “the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”

He added that there is “a right way and a wrong way to express your views” in the U.S., and “turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.”

In 2009, San Diego became the first person suspected of domestic terrorism to be added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List. The bureau also offered a reward of $250,000 for information leading to his arrest. (Related: Antonio Riano, one of “America’s Most Wanted” fugitives, finally captured in Mexico 20 years after fatal shooting in Ohio.)

The FBI’s most wanted terrorist list was created by former President George W. Bush back in October 2001, several weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. According to Bush, the list would “shine the light of justice” on terrorists, who he warned would “try to operate in the shadows.”

“Terrorism has a face, and today we expose it for the world to see,” added Bush. The first list included 22 people, including Osama bin Laden.

As of writing, there are 24 people on the “Most Wanted Terrorists” list.

Suspect has been linked to animal rights extremist groups

According to the bulletin, San Diego “has ties to animal rights extremist groups” and is “known to follow a vegan diet.” It also revealed that the suspect has previously worked as a Linux operating system networking specialist.

San Diego grew up in an upper-middle-class suburb of Marin County, north of San Francisco. His father was the city manager of Belvedere, a wealthy enclave.

The FBI also said that San Diego worked as a computer network specialist and was known to carry a handgun. He was also skilled at sailing and has traveled internationally.

According to a now archived FBI page, San Diego was added to the domestic terrorism list, and he was involved in a group called Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. He was also wanted for his “alleged involvement in bombing two biotech facilities that did business with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that conducts animal experimentation for the medical and pharmaceutical industries.”

At the time, the notice also warned that both animal rights and environmental extremism “pose a significant domestic terror threat” because such attacks were responsible for “1,800 criminal acts and tens of millions of dollars in damages.”

A group called Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade has claimed responsibility for the bombings, citing the companies’ ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Animal rights extremists allegedly targeted Huntingdon because of its work with experimental drugs and chemicals on animals while it was under contract for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and other companies.

The people who recognized San Diego had no idea he was on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” list

Reports revealed that the agency’s last sighting of San Diego was back in 2003 when FBI agents were close to apprehending him in downtown San Francisco.

In 2013, FBI agent David Johnson said that San Diego parked his car, exited his vehicle, and “started walking down the street.” The suspect then entered a Bart [train] station, and that was the last time agents saw him.

San Diego was spotted in Maenan, just above a house that wasn’t accessible. There was no proper road access and it was believed that San Diego had lived there for a while.

According to locals, San Diego had been living in the area for at least several years. They added that he kept to himself and that a couple of witnesses had recognized him from walking dogs.

However, no one knew much about him and they were not aware that he was one of the most wanted people on the FBI’s terrorist list.

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