Enviros Torch Homes Near DC

[Mike]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20041206-1453-homesdestroyed.html

Arson fires destroy homes under construction near Washington, D.C.

Eco-terrorism suspected
By Stephen Manning
ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:53 p.m. December 6, 2004

INDIAN HEAD, Md. - More than a dozen expensive homes under construction were
burned down early Monday in a suburban Washington housing development that
had been criticized by environmentalists because it is next to a nature
preserve, officials said.

An FBI agent said the fires may have been set by environmental extremists.

A dozen homes were destroyed and 29 others damaged near the state's
Mattawoman Natural Environment Area. No injuries were reported. The damage
was estimated at at least $10 million.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Faron Taylor, a deputy state fire marshal, said investigators believe fires
were set in at least four of the homes, which were priced at $400,000 to
$500,000. Taylor refused to say what led investigators to conclude it was
arson.

"At this point, our knowledge of the methodology is shared by us and the
perpetrator, and we don't want to share that with anyone else," Taylor said.


A Sierra Club report had called the development "quintessential sprawl"
because it is far from existing infrastructure and "threatens a fragile
wetland and important historical sites near the Chesapeake Bay."

After the fires, the Sierra Club issued a statement saying it "strongly
condemns all acts of violence in the name of the environment."

FBI spokesman Barry Maddox said FBI agents were on the scene and would
investigate whether the fires were an act of ecoterrorism.

"Anything and everything will be considered, but we're not labeling this
anything other than suspicious fires," Maddox said.

The blazes were reported before 5 a.m., drawing firefighters from four
counties to the subdivision about 25 miles south of the nation's capital.
The houses, on lots of about a quarter-acre each, were spread across a
10-acre area, Taylor said.

"This was a very, very affluent neighborhood under construction," Taylor
said.

Taylor said the fire would be investigated by agents from the Maryland fire
marshal's office and the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,
which is routinely brought in to help investigate large fires.

[Matt]

Yeah because burning down the homes is totally safe for the environment!

Reminds of of that ELF group who decided to set a bunch of Hummers on fire down here in San Diego at a dealership. All that burning rubber, oil, gas, paint...totally safe for the endagered species and environment.

[Ted]

It's was on the local news tonight. I wish they would find these eco terrorist, and put a bullet through their heads.

[Bryanccfshr]

It's was on the local news tonight. I wish they would find these eco terrorist, and put a bullet through their heads.


No, I hope they find them and prosecute them under the Homeland security act as the terrorist they are. These people in their deparation to stop growth and development are resorting to terroristic methods since they cannot win the battle legally.

Once again Private property rigbhts need to be respected.

[Matt]

No, I hope they find them and prosecute them under the Homeland security act as the terrorist they are. These people in their deparation to stop growth and development are resorting to terroristic methods since they cannot win the battle legally.

Once again Private property rigbhts need to be respected.

Hey that's a good idea!

[KStacoma]

That sort of sh*t makes me sick, dumb ass hippie's who are all burnt out have to go out and screw up other people's things because they don't feel like it is right. What pisses me off too is all the work that goes into building houses and how the construction worker's that were building the houses work all goes up in smoke due to dumbass hippies who need real jobs.

[Firetacoma]

Turns out it was a disgruntled employee who was upset that the company hadn't been sympathetic to the death of his infant son. But let's jump to more conclusions eh?

[elgecko]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20041206-1453-homesdestroyed.html

Arson fires destroy homes under construction near Washington, D.C.

Eco-terrorism suspected
By Stephen Manning
ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:53 p.m. December 6, 2004

INDIAN HEAD, Md. - More than a dozen expensive homes under construction were
burned down early Monday in a suburban Washington housing development that
had been criticized by environmentalists because it is next to a nature
preserve, officials said.

An FBI agent said the fires may have been set by environmental extremists.

A dozen homes were destroyed and 29 others damaged near the state's
Mattawoman Natural Environment Area. No injuries were reported. The damage
was estimated at at least $10 million.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Faron Taylor, a deputy state fire marshal, said investigators believe fires
were set in at least four of the homes, which were priced at $400,000 to
$500,000. Taylor refused to say what led investigators to conclude it was
arson.

"At this point, our knowledge of the methodology is shared by us and the
perpetrator, and we don't want to share that with anyone else," Taylor said.


A Sierra Club report had called the development "quintessential sprawl"
because it is far from existing infrastructure and "threatens a fragile
wetland and important historical sites near the Chesapeake Bay."

After the fires, the Sierra Club issued a statement saying it "strongly
condemns all acts of violence in the name of the environment."

FBI spokesman Barry Maddox said FBI agents were on the scene and would
investigate whether the fires were an act of ecoterrorism.

"Anything and everything will be considered, but we're not labeling this
anything other than suspicious fires," Maddox said.

The blazes were reported before 5 a.m., drawing firefighters from four
counties to the subdivision about 25 miles south of the nation's capital.
The houses, on lots of about a quarter-acre each, were spread across a
10-acre area, Taylor said.

"This was a very, very affluent neighborhood under construction," Taylor
said.

Taylor said the fire would be investigated by agents from the Maryland fire
marshal's office and the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,
which is routinely brought in to help investigate large fires.

Yup, not enviro whackos but street racers.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/consumer_news/10463752.htm?1c

Prosecutor: Md. Arsons May Be Hate Crimes

BRIAN WITTE

Associated Press


GREENBELT, Md. - Authorities are investigating whether an arson spree at a new housing development in a Washington suburb was a racist hate crime, since many of the homeowners are black, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Sanger said the participants, "not all of whom are in custody at this time," intended to "inflict as much damage as possible."

Six people - all of them young white men - have been arrested, and authorities have said they have interviewed or plan to question about 10 others who may be connected to the fires.

The Dec. 6 fires destroyed 10 houses and damaged 16 others at the upscale Hunters Brooke development, much of which was still under construction. Damage was put at $10 million.

Sanger made her comments during a hearing for the first man arrested, Aaron L. Speed, 21. A magistrate granted the prosecutor's request to keep Speed in jail without bail until his trial.

Speed's attorney, John C. Chamble, called the government's case "extremely thin," saying there was no scientific evidence against his client, and argued for bail.

But the prosecutor responded that the fires were "an effort to wipe out a community. This is not a little lumber pile."

Sanger said the homeowners have had their dreams wiped out for at least two years. As for whether the crime was racially motivated, the prosecutor said, that is "something we're very carefully investigating."

Speed and the other men in custody are charged with arson. None is charged with a hate crime.

Several other potential motives have been mentioned since the fires. Court papers made public Tuesday said one of the men under arrest, Michael Gilbert, 21, told investigators the fires were set to gain notoriety for a gang.

"Gilbert said that he was a member of `the family,' also known as the 'Unseen Cavaliers,' a gang operating in Charles County, Md.," authorities said in court papers. "The leader of the `family' is Patrick Walsh. Gilbert stated that approximately one month ago, Walsh approached Gilbert saying Walsh had a plan to make `the family bigger and more famous.' Walsh's plan had to do with setting `something' on fire and that it would be big."

Officials said they had not heard of the Unseen Cavaliers before and had no information on the group.

Walsh, 20, was arrested over the weekend. His attorney, William B. Purpura, denied the allegations in the court papers.

Investigators have previously said racism may have been a motive. A federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said earlier that two of the men under arrest made racial statements while talking to investigators.

Revenge also has been mentioned as a possible motive. Speed, a security guard at the construction site, allegedly told investigators he was angry with his employer because it did not show enough sympathy after his infant son died this year.

Also, the law enforcement source said another of the men under arrest, a volunteer firefighter, had tried unsuccessfully to get a job with the construction company building the houses.

Initially, there was speculation the fires were set by environmental extremists because some critics had complained the houses threatened a nearby bog. But no evidence has been found to support that theory, police said.

Gilbert appeared in court Tuesday and was ordered held for a bail hearing. His attorney would not comment. His mother, Christine Gilbert, said, "My son's a good boy."

Several of the men were interested in street racing and may have been members of an informal racing club, according to a law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"A lot of them know each other from that club. That's one thing they had in common," the source said.

[Boheefus]

why can't young men spend their time more productively? when I was a kid I was too busy spanking it to burn houses......the youth today.........