The defendants allegedly participated "in a pattern of domestic terrorism activities" that caused millions of dollars in destruction, Gonzales said at a press conference flanked by FBI director Robert Mueller.

The 65-count indictment alleges that the defendants carried out their attacks in the western states of Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, California and Colorado from 1996 through 2001 on behalf of the extremist Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ELF).

The defendants referred to themselves as "the family" and worked "together with extensive planning to influence the conduct of government and private businesses through the use of coordinated force, violence, sabotage, intimidation, and coercion," Gonzales said.

"On a number of occasions, they constructed incendiary devices made from milk jugs or plastic buckets, petroleum products, and delayed timers ... and then used them to destroy buildings, vehicles, and other targets," Gonzales said.

Targets included US Forest Service ranger stations, meat processing and lumber companies, a high-tension power line and a ski facility in Oregon.

"The trail of destruction left by these defendants across the western United States caused millions of dollars in damage to public and private facilities," Gonzales added.

Federal Bureau of Investigation director Mueller in turn said that tracking "and preventing animal rights and environmental extremism is one of the FBI's highest domestic terrorism priorities."

The ALF and ELF, which Gonzales described as "extremist movements known to support acts of domestic terrorism," are both groups of British origin.

The ALF became active in the United States in 1979, and the ELF in 1996.

Eight of those in the indictment, handed down by a Portland, Oregon-based grand jury, are under arrest, while three are believed to be outside of the country, officials said.

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