Activist wrote threat letters in his own blood
A 21-year-old animal rights activist is being prosecuted at the Gothenburg District Court, suspected of arson and writing threat letters, sometimes in his own blood.
Most of the 17 threats have been delivered by mail, mainly to people with connections to the fur trade and animal farming in Gothenburg, Skaraborg, Jönköping and Blekinge in southern and western Sweden.
Aside from delivering numerous threats and allegedly burning down a hamburger restaurant, the young man confessed to smashing the window of a restaurant that he believed to be serving shark fin soup.
“There's a system to it,” prosecutor Lars Lidman told TT.
“Through this threats he has tried to limit and affect people who work in the fur industry.”
Lidman also stated that the man has threatened people who work with animals in the pharmaceutical industry, and claims that he should be sentenced to between four to five years in prison.
Three other men are also being prosecuted for crimes connected to those for which the 21-year-old is on trial. With a few exception, all the suspects have pleaded not guilty.
As members the Djurrättsalliansen (Swedish Animal Rights Group), the suspects have denied any participation in the cases of vandalism.
However, the nevertheless expressed their support for another animal rights group, Djurens befrielsefront ('Animals' Liberation Front'), which is said to be behind the deeds.
According to the prosecutor, the suspects have not only vandalized a number of stores, but have also forced owners to sign a "fur-free policy" promising not to sell fur or face further repercussions.
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Most of the 17 threats have been delivered by mail, mainly to people with connections to the fur trade and animal farming in Gothenburg, Skaraborg, Jönköping and Blekinge in southern and western Sweden.
Aside from delivering numerous threats and allegedly burning down a hamburger restaurant, the young man confessed to smashing the window of a restaurant that he believed to be serving shark fin soup.
“There's a system to it,” prosecutor Lars Lidman told TT.
“Through this threats he has tried to limit and affect people who work in the fur industry.”
Lidman also stated that the man has threatened people who work with animals in the pharmaceutical industry, and claims that he should be sentenced to between four to five years in prison.
Three other men are also being prosecuted for crimes connected to those for which the 21-year-old is on trial. With a few exception, all the suspects have pleaded not guilty.
As members the Djurrättsalliansen (Swedish Animal Rights Group), the suspects have denied any participation in the cases of vandalism.
However, the nevertheless expressed their support for another animal rights group, Djurens befrielsefront ('Animals' Liberation Front'), which is said to be behind the deeds.
According to the prosecutor, the suspects have not only vandalized a number of stores, but have also forced owners to sign a "fur-free policy" promising not to sell fur or face further repercussions.
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