Press Office announced for underground Animal Liberation Movement; New information about L.A., National raids to be disclosed

LOS ANGELES - Militant and secretive international groups suspected of sabotaging Los Angeles-area businesses to save the lives of animals will soon have an aboveground arm to represent them.

The opening of the Animal Liberation Press Office for the western U.S. will be announced Friday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. at a major news conference at Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys (7277 Valjean Ave. at Sherman Way), Pilot's Lounge.

The Animal Liberation Press Office will make public information and video footage from a raid last week at the University of Iowa where the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) freed 400 rats, mice and pigeons from research labs and destroyed equipment, including 40 computers.

At Friday's news briefing, more information will also be provided about a major increase in underground attacks on Los Angeles-area targets, including McDonald's outlets and other targets related to the Los Angeles animal "kill" shelter.

The ALF and its sister organization, the Earth Liberation front, are considered to be among the most "dangerous terrorist" groups in the U.S. by the federal government, although no one has ever been hurt in their raids.

The ALF has been credited with freeing thousands of animals from fur farms, research laboratories -- including several in Southern California -- and factory farms over more than 20 years. They have also sabotaged businesses that torture and kill animals for profit and fun.