A widespread campaign of intimidation and violence by animal rights extremists against University of California (UC) scientists and researchers has been marked by numerous acts of harassment, vandalism and a series of firebombings and attempted firebombings deliberately targeting individuals.

Two firebombings targeting UC - Santa Cruz (UCSC) scientists are the latest attacks related to the campaign, which began in 2006 and has primarily focused on UC faculty who use animal experimentation in their research.

On August 2, 2008, a firebomb – described by authorities as a "Molotov cocktail on steroids" – was lit on the porch of a UCSC molecular biologist, causing a fire and a large amount of smoke to spread throughout the home. The victim and his family, who had been sleeping inside, managed to escape down a fire ladder.

The biologist was one of 13 UCSC faculty members identified on a pamphlet found at a Santa Cruz coffee shop several days before the incident. The pamphlet provided photos and home addresses of the individuals listed, along with a warning, "Animal abusers everywhere beware; we know where you live; we know where you work; we will never back down until you end your abuse."

A second firebomb destroyed a vehicle owned by another UCSC animal researcher. A third researcher received a threatening phone message at home the day of the firebombings.

While no one has claimed responsibility for the Santa Cruz attacks, Jerry Vlasak, a spokesperson for the animal rights extremist movement who has said that he considers the assassination of scientists working in biomedical research in order to save animals a "morally justifiable solution," issued a statement blaming the victims for the attack.

"It's regrettable that certain scientists are willing to put their families at risk by choosing to do wasteful animal experiments…it is unreasonable not to expect consequences." In a separate interview, Vlasak further defended the attacks, saying, "The inconvenience and the suffering of any children or any family members pales in comparison to the suffering and oppression that goes on in these animal laboratories."

The FBI, Santa Cruz police, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, UCSC Police and the state Fire Marshal's office are collaborating on the investigation. The first firebombing attack is being investigated as attempted homicide.