DETROIT, June 7 (UPI) -- The FBI is investigating whether the radical Earth Liberation Front, or ELF, is reponsible for a mini-wave of arsons in east Michigan.
The Detroit Free Press reported Saturday that ELF is claiming credit for two fires that destroyed four luxury homes under construction, including two in suburban Detroit Tuesday.
The group has also claimed credit for five other incidents dating back to 1999, targeting a genetic engineering research project at Michigan State University, a McDonald's restaurant, SUVs at a Ford dealership, an oil company and a lumber yard.
An FBI special agent investigating the latest arsons said he is not yet ready to give ELF the credit for the fires.
"Just because someone spray paints ELF somewhere is not enough for us to conclude it's ELF related," he said.
On its website, ELF claims to have caused $1.2 million in damages in Michigan over the last five months and $50 million nationwide since 1997.
