Animal rights activists used bomb hoaxes, threats against children and criminal damage in a six year terror campaign, a court in England has been told this week.

Prosecutors allege five member of the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty group used “blackmail and unwarranted demands with menaces” in an attempt to stop companies trading with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a contract lab that conducts experiments on animal (Daily Telegraph).

SHAC members Trevor Holmes, 51, Gerrah Selby, 20, Daniel Wadham, 21, Gavin Medd-Hall, 45, and Heather Nicholson, 41, deny conspiracy to blackmail while Gregg Avery, 40, Natasha Avery, 39, and Daniel Amos, 21, have pleaded guilty (various, eg Times).

One of those targeted was told “We will attack your property or your family or you whenever we see fit. Anything goes.” Another was subjected to false rumours he was a paedophile and hoax bombs (Guardian.)