Ecology Terrorism Doubted In Arsons
Cleaning Fluids Fed Md. Fires
By Sari Horwitz and Amit R. Paley
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 15, 2004; Page B01
Authorities investigating last week's arsons that destroyed 10 unoccupied new homes in Charles County are leaning away from eco-terrorism as a possible motive and are focusing more on people who had routine access to the work site, law enforcement sources familiar with the case said yesterday.
Investigators also have identified the types of liquid accelerants that they believe were used to start the fires at the Hunters Brooke subdivision, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the probe is continuing. They described the flammable liquids as two kinds of cleaning solvents, one of which is used for metal....
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Investigators initially had focused on eco-terrorism because the Hunters Brooke subdivision was built near an environmentally sensitive bog and has been the focus of a dispute between environmentalists and regulators who allowed the subdivision to begin.
Environmental extremists involved in similar disputes across the country have used arson as a protest tool and then claimed responsibility for their fires. As of yesterday, no one had issued such a claim in the Dec. 6 fires....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64714-2004Dec14.html