Daniel Andreas San Diego, a 46-year-old fugitive who had been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list for over two decades, was arrested in North Wales on Monday, November 25, 202412. San Diego was wanted in connection with two bombings in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003, which were allegedly linked to animal rights extremism23.
On August 28, 2003, two bombs exploded about an hour apart on the campus of Chiron Corporation, a biotechnology firm in Emeryville, California12. A month later, on September 26, 2003, a nail-strapped bomb detonated at Shaklee Corporation, a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California27. While no one was injured in these attacks, authorities believe the second bomb at Chiron was intended to harm first responders7.
San Diego, originally from Berkeley, California, was indicted in July 2004 by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California3. He was charged with two counts of destroying or attempting to destroy property with explosives and two counts of use of a destructive device in a crime of violence7.
In 2009, San Diego became the first domestic terrorism suspect to be added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list9. The FBI offered a reward of $250,000 (£199,000) for information leading to his capture12.
After more than 20 years on the run, San Diego was apprehended in a joint operation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), counter-terrorism officers, and North Wales Police12. He was arrested at a rural property near woodland in the Conwy area of Wales13.
Following his arrest, San Diego appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, as the process to extradite him to the United States began15. He has been remanded in custody pending further legal proceedings3.
FBI Director Christopher Wray commented on the arrest, stating, “Daniel San Diego’s arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable”15. Wray emphasized that while there are appropriate ways to express views in the United States, “turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way”15.
San Diego was described by the FBI as having ties to “animal rights extremist groups”1. The targeted companies were reportedly chosen due to their connections with a laboratory conducting animal experiments2. A group called Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombings, citing the companies’ ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences, a frequent target of animal rights activists9.
The arrest of Daniel Andreas San Diego marks the end of a two-decade-long manhunt and demonstrates the persistence of law enforcement agencies in pursuing suspects of domestic terrorism. As extradition proceedings begin, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in addressing extremism and the importance of international cooperation in law enforcement.
