Radical environmentalist group suspected in toppling of Wash. radio towers

The ELF is a loose collection of radical environmentalists that has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks since the 1990s. The FBI has taken over as lead investigator in yesterday’s incident.

The towers apparently were taken down with a track hoe, a piece of heavy construction equipment that was already on the site, FBI agent Marty Prewett said.

The ELF’s website featured a picture of one of the towers lying on its site with the caption “Earth Liberation Front Topples Two Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA,’’ followed by the words: “Details coming soon.’’

Crawford said he believed more than one person was involved. He said he had not spoken directly with anyone who claimed to be involved but received some e-mail from what appear to be locals who support the action.

The towers belonging to KRKO - a family-owned station in Everett, about 25 miles north of Seattle - have prompted complaints from neighbors of interference from radio signals on home telephone and intercom lines. The site for the towers is in the town of Snohomish, about 8 miles southeast of Everett.

The station’s plans to increase its transmission capacity by building more towers on the site have been embroiled for more than a decade in appeals and litigation over issues ranging from trumpeter swan habitat to potential health hazards to humans.