Bomb warning for livestock hauliers
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by Lee Kimber • Animal rights protesters are poised to mount a bloody campaign of booby-trapped letters against livestock hauliers over the coming weeks, warn intelligence officials.
Special Branch officers are briefing vulnerable hauliers about suspicious packages after receiving tip-offs that animal rights activists are planning to post mousetraps barbed with razor blades to target haulage companies.
Senior Special Branch officers refuse to comment on any aspect of their fight against animal rights extremists, claiming these are "intelligence matters" but insiders confirm the threat, saying they understand "there could be a resurgence."
Police forces around the country were tipped off earlier this month about the booby trap threat by a secretive London Special Branch intelligence unit which maintains a database of information on activists— the National Animal Rights Index.
It is believed to have thoroughly penetrated the country's animal rights groups but avoids publicity that could compromise its network of informants.
The warnings prompted three police forces to contact the Road Haulage Association, which last week mailed members of the Livestock Carriers Group warning them to watch out for suspicious mail.
Intelligence sources dismiss reports that the activists could use explosives after some forces warned individual livestock hauliers and the RHA that they could receive letter bombs. A source told CM that the devices are likely to be frightening and dangerous but not lethal.
The RHA is urging hauliers to %Nam their staff about the risk and to take suspicious packages to a safe area and call the police.
Scotland Yard is refusing to reveal details of how the packages could look in case the activists modify their designs. But in the past police have advised potential letter bomb victims to watch for packages that feel too heavy for their size and for wires or strings that protrude from the packaging when packages are opened.