Animal protest wrecks lorries

ANIMAL RIGHTS extremists have caused up to pounds 1m damage in an arson attack on a dairy, police said yesterday. The activists planted fire bombs under lorries at Unigate Dairies in Oxford causing a massive blaze just after midnight.

Seventeen vehicles were completely burnt out in the attack. Half an hour earlier, four vehicles were destroyed at Tadmartin Poultry in nearby Banbury.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Sergeant Bob Gray condemned the attacks, but said no one as yet had claimed responsibility.

"This attack has all the hallmarks of animal rights activists," he said. "We utterly condemn this kind of direct action. It was sheer wanton vandalism and whoever did this was extremely reckless.

"We are not sure of the exact value of the damage but we would estimate it at between half a million and a million pounds."

The attackers left incendiary devices under each vehicle at the back of the yard. The alarm was raised by holiday-makers on a nearby camp site.

"These incendiary devices were well made and certainly seemed to serve their purpose," Sgt Gray said. "All but one device went off and this had to be made safe by the fire brigade.

"The devices had detonators which ignited petrol. They were obviously dangerous and could put people's lives at risk. There is a camping site very close by and these actions show a total disregard for the safety of others."

Unigate Dairies spokeswoman Tony Hensby said: "This incident is inexplicable and we are at a complete loss."

t Earlier, Thames Valley Police arrested 20 people during a sit down protest at the Hillgrove Cat Farm in nearby Witney.

A 42-year-old man from Cambridge was charged with obstructing police and will appear before Witney magistrates on 20 September. The other 19 activists have been released on police bail pending further inquiries. (PA)