Animal rights extremists target farmers

LONDON, April 15 (UPI) -- Police in Britain are reporting that animal rights extremists are targeting farmers more than ever, at a rate of one incident every nine days.

The London Sunday Telegraph reported that farmers are worried that extremists are widening their scope. Most farmers who have experienced threats and harassment are poultry farmers. The report comes after police have curbed attacks on various animal research facilities.

In one incident, animal rights extremists caused hundreds of thousands in damage when they detonated firebombs at a farming business in Oxfordshire. The Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in memory of a fellow activist who perished in jail during a hunger strike.

Other incidents have involved white powder being sent to businesses, break-ins, and threatening phone calls and emails.

The Telegraph reported that police are shifting their attention to the protection of farmers after the increase in threats and attacks.