Back to Search ResultsIncident Summary:
01/29/1989: Suspected members of Earth First! claimed to have set fire to the Dixon Livestock Auction Company building in Dixon, California (about 20 miles west of Sacramento) in the United States, causing about $250,000 worth of damage. There were no casualties in the incident, but the arson, which was caused by an incendiary device planted in the building, destroyed half of the two-story rural warehouse used for livestock auctions. After the incident, a male caller, identifying himself as a member of the Earth First! group, phoned the Associated Press in San Francisco and claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that the motive for targeting the livestock industry was "because we are opposed to the livestock industry because it causes irreparable damage to the environment by putting chemicals in food and water and destroying natural habitat for wildlife. We will continue carrying out our actions against the livestock industry in the future until it stops.''Overview
GTD ID:
198901290015
When:
1989-01-29
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
California
City:
Dixon
Location Details:
at livestock auction building in Dixon, CA
What
| Type of Attack (more) | Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
| Successful Attack? (more) | Yes |
| Target Type: Business | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Entity | Dixon Livestock Auction Company | ||
| Specific Description | Dixon Livestock Auction Company building | ||
| Nationality of Target | United States | ||
| Hostages | No |
| Ransom | No |
| Property Damage | Yes |
| Extent of Property Damage | Minor (likely < $1 million) |
| Value of Property Damage | $250,000.00 |
How
| Type | Sub-type |
|---|---|
| Incendiary | Arson/Fire |
| Weapon Details | |
| ignited incendiary device | |
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
| Criterion 1 (more) | Yes |
| Criterion 2 (more) | Yes |
| Criterion 3 (more) | Yes |
| Additional Information | Although a caller, claiming to be a member of Earth First! claimed responsibility for the incident in the name of the group, a spokesperson for the group stated that he had no knowledge of the fire or any such actions, but that it may have been committed by Earth First members, so it is uncertain that this group was definitely responsible, though it is most likely. Additionally, at the same time as this arson incident, the same Earth First! caller also claimed responsibility for slogans such as "Earth First! Agri-Bus kills" which were spray-painted on the walls of the California Cattlemen's Association office in Sacramento as well as graffiti at the California Wool Growers Association and the Agricultural Council of California near the State Capitol in Sacramento. |
Who
| Group Name | Claimed Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Earth First! (suspected) | Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Call (post-incident)) |
| Number of Perpetrators | Unknown |
| Number of Captured Perpetrators | Unknown |
| 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
| "Livestock Auction House Burns; Caller Claims Responsibility," The Associated Press, January 29,1989. |
| "Caller claims responsibility for auction building fire," United Press International, January 29, 1989. |
| "Arson suspected in auction building fire," Lodi News-Sentinel, January 30, 1989. |
Copyright © 2009-2022 University of Maryland
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
An Emeritus Center of Excellence of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Data and Privacy | End User Agreement | Contact
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
An Emeritus Center of Excellence of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Data and Privacy | End User Agreement | Contact