U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information ATF Northern Border Extremists Overview of American / Canadian Extremists Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Overview of American / Canadian Extremists ¾ Introduction • ATF • Purpose • Overview of American and Canadian Extremists ¾ Key Judgments ¾ Single Issue Extremists ¾ Leftwing Extremists ¾ Rightwing Extremists ¾ ATF Field Divisions Activity ¾ Canadian Extremist Groups ¾ Intelligence Gaps ¾ Conclusion 2 Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Introduction The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is one of several law enforcement agencies within the United States Department of Justice that is dedicated to preventing terrorism, reducing violent crimes, and protecting our Nation. The men and women of ATF perform the dual responsibilities of enforcing Federal criminal laws and regulating the firearms and explosives industries. ATF is committed to working directly, and through partnerships, to investigate and reduce crime involving firearms and explosives, acts of arson, and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products. Within ATF, the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII) provides analytical support as it relates to the reduction of violent crime and protecting the public by providing timely, accurate, and focused intelligence through the collection and analysis of information to enhance decision making for all Bureau customers. 3 Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Purpose The purpose of this report is to provide information as it relates to the activity of extremist groups in those States that are along the U.S.-Canadian border and throughout Canada. On occasion, ATF investigations involve members of extremist groups who are engaged in criminal activity. It is hoped that the information contained in this publication will provide an awareness of the types of groups, locations, their ideologies, and the tactics associated with these groups. 4 Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Overview of American / Canadian Extremists Organizations According to information obtained via the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the number of hate groups operating with the United States has risen and continues to rise. In 2006, law enforcement intelligence and SPLC information counted 844 organizations in 2007; this number has risen to 888, an increase of approximately 4.7 percent. This number may seem small; however, during an 8-year time period, this has translated into a 48-percent jump in the number of groups since 2000, when there were 602 hate groups operating in the United States, according to research by the intelligence project of the SPLC. Much of the expansion has been driven by hate groups’ exploitation of the issue of illegal immigration, which most Americans see as a pressing concern. This overview addresses the issue of American and Canadian extremism in Canada and in those States that fall along the American-Canadian border. Federal law enforcement officials believe White supremacists and other hate groups consist of some of the most violent and dangerous domestic organizations because of their willingness to act on their hatred. While traditional targets of hate groups have been African Americans and Jews, White supremacists have enhanced their focus in recent years to include homosexuals, pro- choice advocates, Hispanics, and Asians. America, unfortunately, has no shortage of extremists. Some come from the far right, in the form of racist and anti-Semitic hate groups or anti-government extremists. Others come from the far left, which include environmental and animal rights extremists.1 At the same time as the United States enacted its Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990, which lobbied to recognize the impact of crimes motivated by hatred, hate crimes commenced in Canada. Although the term hate crime is commonly used today, little consensus exists as to its exact meaning. Although most definitions list a number of identifiable traits based on race, religion, and ethnicity, differences remain. To date, more than 40 States have enacted hate crime legislation. Of these, 21 States and the District of Columbia also include sexual orientation as a protected status.2 In Canada, some of these definitional issues are currently being addressed. To date, Canada has no centralized system for collecting national police-reported statistics relating to hate-motivated crimes. Offenders of hate crimes have been associated with organizations such as Neo Nazis, Skinheads, and the Ku Klux Klan. At the root of extremism are radical ideologies and religious beliefs, held in anger and frustration, which can lead to violent acts ranging from hate crimes to terrorism. Hate and extremist activity are also flourishing through new electronic avenues such as the Internet. Monitoring this activity at both the national and international levels remains difficult at best in both Canada and the United States. 5 Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Key Judgments • A large number of these groups operate mainly in the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Washington. • The number of extremist groups operating in both the United States and Canada were minimal. • The activity of the “Skinheads” groups appears to be more violent in nature. • The ALF/ELF continues to destroy property using the arson technique. 6 Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Single Issue Extremists These groups represent both rightwing and leftwing political leanings. The activities of these extremists differ from law-abiding groups by engaging in criminal activity, as well as acts of violence, to draw public attention to their issue(s) or cause. These groups consist of, but are not limited to, the following: • Animal Liberation Front (ALF) – Origins can be traced to 1970s Base of Operation: Canada; United Kingdom; United States Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is an international extremist movement that seeks to totally eliminate animal abuse and the suffering of animals at the hands of humans. ALF utilizes the concept of “leaderless resistance” and is organized into small, autonomous Figure 1 – ALF Supporter cells with no centralized organization or leadership. ALF members believe in direct action and are heavily influenced by militant leftwing extremists linked to various anti-war movements and radical environmentalist groups. In recent years, an increasing amount of terrorist-related activity, primarily arsons, vandalism, and sabotage, have been attributed to ALF. ALF activists initially carried out acts of terrorism activity in the late 1980s throughout the Pacific Northwest, mainly in the States of Washington, Oregon, and California. ALF also has a strong following in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York. In the United States, 11 members of the 2 most active extremist movements in the United States have been indicted on charges related to 17 acts of domestic terrorism in 5 western States. Calling themselves “The Family,” they targeted U.S. Forest Service ranger stations, Bureau of Land Management wild horse facilities, meat processing companies, lumber companies, and high-tension power lines among other targets on behalf of ALF and ELF. Two members of “The Family” are Canadian citizens. 7 Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) 12/1/2008 Overview of American/ Canadian Extremists Associated Criminal Activity – arson, bombings, harassment, vandalism, animal release, threats, destruction of property, terroristic activities. • Eco-Terrorists/Earth Liberation Front (ELF) Base of Operation: Canada; United Kingdom; United States Earth Liberation Front (ELF) is an international extremist movement that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the exploitation and destruction of the natural environment. ELF also utilizes the concept of “leaderless resistance” and has no formal organizational structure or centralized leadership. Like ALF, the group is renowned for carrying out destructive arsons resulting in millions of dollars in property damage. ELF activists are also active throughout the Pacific Northwest and have also carried out acts of terrorism throughout the region including Washington, Oregon, Montana, Michigan, New York, and Maryland. During “Operation Backfire,” 1996–2001, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and law enforcement authorities learned that members of ELF had two weapons caches. Both caches were buried in Tillamook County, Oregon, and consisted of books, fireworks, hexamine tablets, Kel-tec ammunition, two AK-47s, a mini-14 rifle, and a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol. These caches were reportedly meant for survival after Y2K and not for assassinations. Eleven members of the ELF were indicted for attacks on Federal land and animal management sites, private meat-packing plants, lumber facilities, and car dealerships with damages reaching $80 million dollars. An escalating trend during the past few years is the increase in new housing developments being targeted by members of ELF. Several incidents, mainly arson, occurred throughout the United States. One major incident occurred in a Hagerstown, Maryland, development causing more than $300,000 in damages. Four unoccupied townhomes were