Animal rights bomber guilty

An animal rights activist was convicted yesterday of carrying out an extensive firebomb campaign.

Barry Horne, 45, carried out arson attacks on shops on the Isle of Wight in 1994 which caused extensive damage to a number of shops, including pounds 2.8m after a branch of Boots was destroyed.

He was also found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of planting incendiary devices hidden in cigarette packets in a shopping centre in Bristol. He was arrested by police who had trailed him for months as he planted the home-made bombs.

In addition he was convicted of possessing bomb-making equipment in Swindon, Birmingham and Bristol.

Horne said the attacks were an act of "political terrorism" in support of animal rights. Sentencing will take place at a later date.