February 14, 2001
		87 Animal Rights Protesters Arrested in Britain British police arrested 87 animal testing protestors on February 11 after demonstrations against two pharmaceutical companies. Approximately 100 demonstartors broke into the Bayer company offices, smashing windows, overturning cabinents and destroying machinery. Drug giant Bayer and eight other targeted pharmaceutical companies all do business with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a notorious British animal testing company. At another drug company's facilities, GlaxoSmithKline, another 150 activists smashed windows with bricks and caused damage to offices inside. The organizing group, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), said that approximately 1,000 demonstartors protested at nine locations, including three business executives' homes. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Love said, "There will be a major investigation and we will do everything necessary to bring charges against those involved." The activists are being held at various police stations on suspicion of burglary and intent to commit criminal damage charges. The association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry estimates that 2.6 million animals are experimented on each year in Great Britain. Huntingdon almost closed recently, but was able to remain open with a $33 million bailout by the U.S.-based Stephens Group Inc.