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Police in Richmond, Virginia are investigating whether or not numerous acts of vandalism in the area over the past few months are the work of the Earth Liberation Front.
On Sept. 27/28, activists used a glass-etching cream to damage a total of 38 windows at two McDonald's and a Burger King fast food restaurant. Also in september, a glass-etching cream was used to damage 25 SUV's at a Richmond dealership.
On Oct. 5/6 two SUVs were hacked with hatchets and a note was left behind that the work was of the Earth Liberation Front.
For the moment, The Earth Liberation Front Press Office says it hasn't received any information taking credit for the attacks,
We have received no statement of claim for those actions at this press office so we are not able to pass along the motivations of these acts, other than to say that they are in keeping with other E.L.F. actions that have targeted pollution, roads and vehicle culture through attacks on vehciles such as S.U.V.s.
Unfortunately, it is also apparent that the local officials likely don't have a firm grasp on the ELF. Wade Kizer, Virginia's Attorney for the county that includes Richmond, told The New York Times,
Police are tryi got dtermine if there are any links to other incidents around the country. [It might be the ELF] but it might be some local people who have just heard of the organization.
But that's all the ELF and ALF have ever been -- a group of people with no ties to any larger organization who commit acts of vandalism and violence and take credit on behalf of ELF. In a very real sense, there is no ELF, but rather just isolated opportunistic acts of vandalism and violence carried out by individuals who have little or no connection with each other (which is what makes it so difficult to prevent ELF and ALF-style actions).
Source:
Rash of vandalism in Richmond may be tied to environment group. Lisa Bacon, The New York Times, November 18, 2002.