Incident Summary:
06/10/1991: Members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) set fire to storage and research buildings of the experimental mink farm at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, in the United States, by planting at least six incendiary devices made with clocks, cans of Sterno and 9-volt batteries. The arson caused a total of $75,000 worth of damage including structural damage to the barn, which was used to store feed, animal bedding and smaller equipment as well as destroyed research documents and records, emptied files, and a broken toilet which caused flooding. There were no casualties in the incident, which was claimed by the group in a news release sent to the Associated Press in Portland, stating that the farm was targeted "due to its role in the barbaric fur trade." ALF member, Rodney Coronado, who launched "Operation Bite Back" in 1991, a five-state arson campaign against the fur industry, was later captured and indicted on federal charges for this incident. He did not act alone, but the other perpetrators are unknown. Coronado spent three and a half years in prison for fur industry arsons.
Overview
GTD ID:
199106100013
When:
1991-06-10
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Oregon
City:
Corvallis
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Educational Institution |
Name of Entity |
Oregon State University |
Specific Description |
mink farm facilities at Oregon State University |
Nationality of Target |
United States |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Minor (likely < $1 million) |
Value of Property Damage |
$75,000.00 |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Incendiary |
Gasoline or Alcohol |
Sabotage Equipment |
|
Weapon Details |
incendiary devices rigged with clocks, cans of Sterno and 9-volt batteries |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Additional Information |
Graffiti spray-painted on the walls included messages such as "This is the beginning," "Concentration camp for animals," "Nowhere to hide-ALF is watching," and "We will return for the kits," referring to the 1,000 baby mink at the farm. This incident was the first in Rodney Coronado's "Operation Bite Back," a five-state arson campaign against the fur industry which began in 1991. Coronade was eventually indicted and served three and a half years in prison for the arsons. |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
1 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
Bryan Denson, "Sabotage in the name of the environment spreading in the West" Associated Press State & Local Wire, October 1, 1999. |
Jeff Wright, "Radicals say they set fire: Research barn torched; OSU offices vandalized," Eugene Register-Guard, June 11, 1991. |
"Oregon Animal Rights Activist indicted," Eugene Register-Guard, July 17, 1993. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties