Animal Rights Link Probed in Explosion
PLEASANTON, Calif. — The Shaklee Corp., known for its environmentally friendly products and its ban on animal tests, was hit with a small, predawn bomb Friday that the FBI suspected might have been the work of domestic terrorists.
While it was still too early to be certain, investigators said they believed the blast might have been the work of animal rights extremists.
The explosion occurred sometime before 3:20 a.m., said FBI spokesman Anthony Montero.
No one was injured, nor was there any structural damage to the building, situated in a sprawling, grassy office park with small, tidy trees. But the bomb shattered glass inside and outside the building and cracked stucco.
Authorities said no group had taken responsibility.
Shaklee, formerly a Bay Area-owned firm, is often cited by animal rights activists as a model company.
On its Web site, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals places Shaklee on its coveted list of those companies that do not test their products on animals.
But authorities said that Shaklee's convoluted corporate connections could have led to Friday's explosion.
Its parent company has been targeted by animal rights activists because of its long-term business dealings with British-based Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Huntingdon is an animal testing lab that does research for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, veterinary and food companies.
On its Web site, Huntingdon points out that animal research was essential for the development of kidney, lung and pacemaker transplants, as well as for cataract operations and coronary bypasses.
Because of Friday's explosion, Shaklee employees were told not to go to work.
The area was cordoned off in yellow tape as law enforcement officials used a vacant, new corporate building for their staging area.
By midday, Pleasanton police had handed over the investigation to the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Although it was still too early to be certain of the connection, "a domestic terrorism case number has been assigned," Montero said.
Aside from saying that Shaklee "does not test animals," spokeswoman Jenifer Thompson, manager of corporate relations, referred all calls to law enforcement authorities.
The ATF's assistant special agent in charge, Andy Traver, said his staff was "collecting debris and components" at the scene.
