The Earth Liberation Front released a statement to several local media outlets Sunday that said an anonymous group opposed to “gas-guzzling SUVs” and “the techno-industrial state” had taken responsibility for an arson that destroyed several sport utility vehicles Friday at a Eugene Chevrolet dealership.
The ELF received a communiqué from an unidentified group that claimed responsibility for Friday’s fire. The communiqué suggested a link between the fire and an arson that occurred at the dealership last June.
In the statement, released Saturday, the ELF said there was “no indication” that this action had been committed by members of the ELF, “but rather one claimed by an anonymous group of unidentified individuals.”
Police said Friday’s fire, which began shortly before 3 a.m., damaged 34 vehicles at Joe Romania Chevrolet, located at 2020 Franklin Blvd. Eugene Police Department spokeswoman Pam Alejandre said that “incendiary devices” placed throughout the lot were filled with gasoline. However, many of the devices failed to ignite and the damage to the dealership, neighboring houses and businesses could have been much worse, Alejandre said.
The EPD, which is directing the investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are continuing to investigate the fire and plan to pursue the ELF information to determine its validity, Alejandre said, adding that the EPD has received more than 100 leads in the case so far.
The communiqué received by ELF makes several references in support of Jeffrey Luers and Craig Marshall, respectively known as ‘Free’ and ‘Critter.’
“The fire that burns within Free and Critter burns within all of us and cannot be extinguished by locking them up,” the communiqué said.
Both Luers and Marshall were charged with multiple counts of arson, criminal mischief and other charges resulting from the alleged possession of destructive devices after a June 2000 fire at Romania Chevrolet.
Luers, who had his trial postponed after his attorney, Ken Morrow, died unexpectedly last November, is scheduled to go on trial today in Lane County Court.
Marshall pleaded guilty last November to conspiracy to commit arson and possession of a destructive device in connection with the June fire.
Romania Chevrolet General Services Director Rich Hazel said that cleanup at the dealership is ongoing and it would be difficult to speculate how long it will take to complete.