WP: Ecology Terrorism Doubted in (Maryland subdivision) Arsons

[DeepModem Mom]

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....

***

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

[leftchick]

1. wow! color me shocked!

:eyes:

[AliciaKeyedUp]

2. Jerry Orbach

Would remind us Motive and Opportunity. Enviromentalists have one not the other. Unhappy employees, broke developers, angry neighbors all have both.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. You missed one, racism

From what I've heard about this story, racism is the most likely cause for these fires. Too bad the press preferred blaming the environmentalists instead, when the probable culprits could care less about the environment. They just don't want those uppity black people building nice houses on their own land.

[hatrack]

6. And when in doubt, there's always insurance fraud

But we don't talk about that when we can paint scary, scary portraits of the Green Menace of ECOTERROR!!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! RUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sara Beverley]

4. Racism: prosperity envy. Pure and simple.

People who live in the area understand what is going on. Whites want that property, especially the water-front property. Been going on for the past 10 years at least.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

5. don't rule out firefighters

many arsons are committed by firemen who love to put fires out.

im not dissing firefighters or accusing anyone, but it's a possiblity.