Domestic terrorism continues on a smaller scale, experts say

By Nick Trougakos

Published: April 20, 2005

Ten years after an American carried out the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, law officers and terrorism experts say domestic terrorism remains a pressing issue.

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"If we delude ourselves saying that terrorism will not happen, we are basically being naive," said Brian Houghton, director of research for the Oklahoma National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism.

Houghton, who holds a doctorate in policy analysis and has studied counterterrorism more than 14 years, said domestic terrorism has been happening since the Murrah bombing, just on a smaller scale.

"The domestic attacks that we've seen since (convicted Murrah bomber) Timothy McVeigh have been predominantly by left-wing, single-issue groups," Houghton said. "We're talking about arson, we're talking about fire bombing, we're talking about vandalism. It meets the criteria of a terrorist attack."

Houghton pointed to groups such as the Animal Liberation Front and the Environmental Liberation Front.

Edmond stock trader Skip Boruchin knows such groups well.

Boruchin has been targeted by a group called Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, law enforcement officials said. The group is upset that Boruchin continues to trade stock for Huntingdon Life Sciences, a British company that tests products on animals.

For nearly three years, Boruchin's business and home have been the target of vandalism. Windows at his office have been smashed. His home and the homes of his relatives have been spray-painted and defaced.

Oklahoma City FBI Special Agent in Charge Salvador Hernandez said his agency treats complaints of domestic terrorism seriously.

Houghton said one of his fears is that some of the organizations will eventually, intentionally or by mistake, commit an act causing wide-scale loss of life to get their point across.

"These groups will see that they're not getting enough attention and will ratchet up the level of violence," he said.

Kerry Pettingill, director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, said the bombing anniversary should be a reminder American- made terrorism is a continuing problem.

"I certainly hope it drives home the point to everyone that we cannot forget about domestic terrorism," Pettingill said.