Animal-rights activists suspected in attacks on UC Santa Cruz researchers:
The first bomb went off about 5:40 a.m. Saturday, destroying a car outside the home of a UC Santa Cruz researcher. Authorities have not named the researcher.Three minutes later and less than a mile away, a second device exploded on the front porch of researcher David Feldheim’s home while he and his family were asleep. As the house filled with smoke, the scientist, his wife and their children, ages 2 and 4, escaped out a window and down an emergency ladder. Feldheim injured his feet during his escape.
Both devices were incendiary, police said, but it was unclear how they were triggered. Also unknown is how many people were involved in carrying out the attacks.
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“Acts of violence and intimidation such as these are unacceptable, and they continue a troubling pattern seen at UCLA and other UC campuses that should be repugnant to us all,” UC President Mark G. Yudof said Monday. “These acts threaten not only our academic researchers and their families, but the safety and security of neighbors in our communities as well.”City officials joined in harshly condemning the bombings and urged members of the public who might have evidence in the case to contact authorities. They announced a $30,000 reward, including $2,500 donated by the Humane Society of the United States.
“The threats and attacks are shocking and abhorrent,” Santa Cruz Mayor Ryan Coonerty said. “We as a community are unambiguous in our condemnation of these actions. Let me be clear, this is not protest. This is terrorism.”