A long-sought individual by the FBI has been apprehended after more than two decades.
Daniel Andreas San Diego has been linked to the 2003 bombings in the San Francisco area of California.
According to the FBI, on August 28, 2003, two explosive devices detonated within an hour of each other on the premises of the Chiron biotechnology company in Emeryville, California.
Subsequently, on September 26, 2003, a bomb, which was embedded with nails, went off at the Shaklee nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California.
In the aftermath of the second explosion, law enforcement searched San Diego’s property and discovered literature indicating an interest in animal rights. San Diego, aged 47, is suspected of being affiliated with an extremist animal rights group.
The day following the search, authorities discovered several components for creating explosives in San Diego’s vehicle, according to BBC News.
Due to his suspected involvement in these bombings, San Diego was labeled as one of the FBI’s ‘most wanted fugitives.’
However, it took 21 years for authorities to track down the suspect, who was captured in November 2024.
Remarkably, San Diego was not discovered in the United States but in Wales, UK, nearly 5,000 miles from the scene of his alleged criminal activities. Specifically, he was located in the small town of Conwy.
On November 25, he was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency, with assistance from Counter Terrorism Policing and North Wales Police, at a property in a rural area adjacent to woodland in Conwy.
In 2004, San Diego was charged in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, with causing damage by explosives at Chiron and Shaklee and possessing explosives during these alleged acts.
A later indictment introduced additional counts, including ‘using or carrying an explosive device to commit a felony,’ as heard in the extradition proceedings.
If prosecutors pursue terrorism charges against San Diego, he could be sentenced to up to 90 years in prison.
San Diego’s defense stated, “Through this second indictment the prosecutor has created a situation for the judge where they will need to impose at least 35 years in the event of conviction in due course.”
They further noted, “The guidelines would say 37-39 years – there’s no parole so the defendant would have to serve that.”
“And if the prosecution can persuade the judge to impose a terrorism enhancement as well, then the guidelines say he’s got to give a 90-year sentence.”
The extradition hearing for San Diego commenced at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, September 8.