Castle Rock, Colorado -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Domestic Terrorism Unit, raided a crystal methamphetamine lab in this town earlier this week.
The high-profile raid, partially aired by several Denver news outlets, was conducted at an abandoned brick factory east of the city. A well-organized and heavily armed gang resisted the raid, and casualties were reportedly high on both sides.
Several fleeing gang members were killed when their automobiles were attacked by the ATF's IA-58 Pucara airplanes.
Agents recovered dozens of illegal military weapons, hundreds of pounds of crystal methamphetamine, and a large quantity of chemical processing equipment raw chemicals. Agents estimated that the entire haul of confiscated equipment had "a street value in the millions of dollars."
Denver, Colorado -- "Let this be a lesson to all greedy multinational corporations who don't respect ecosystems. Just as the Vail Resorts destroy the children of this world with their destruction of habitat, we destroy the children of their world. The ELFs Now are watching."
This brief letter was delivered to several Denver-area news organizations. Members of the splinter eco-terrorist organization Earth Liberation Front Now claimed responsibility for the fire that leveled the Two Elks Lodge at the Vail Ski Resort. A private party was being held at the lodge for the teenaged daughter of one of the resort owners. None of the fifty teenagers or adults in the building survived. The FBI Domestic Terrorism Unit is reportedly trying to track down the ELF Now members responsible for this act. This is the second time in four years that an eco-terrorist group has burned down Vail's mountain-top lodge.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria -- Years of tension between the Hausa tribe and the minority Ibo tribe have exploded into a civil war. Much like the civil war in 1967, this Second Nigerian Civil War pits these two tribes in a fight for control of the rich oil fields in the southern end of Nigeria. Unlike the First Nigerian Civil War, the Ibo tribe and their self-proclaimed nation of Biafra appear to have some strong off-shore backers.
Hundreds of "volunteers", mostly German veterans, have been arriving at the city of Port Harcourt, the crucial lifeline of the Biafran rebels. Unconfirmed reports tell of the arrival of an entire regiment of French-built attack helicopters also staffed by foreign volunteers.
Facing off against this rebel operation is the Nigerian Army. They were caught unprepared for this rebellion, but they have quickly organized near the Benin border to the west and near the Benue River to the north. Some sources have told this news agency that several oil cartels have paid the Cuban government to ship a mercenary brigade of army regulars to help suppress the rebellion and regain control of the oil wells and Port Harcourt.
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Last Updated 10 Apr 2000
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