The attack comes after DrugResearcher.com revealed last month that animal extremists had planted a bomb underneath the car of a broker to the drug company Phytopharm in an act of violence that was reminiscent of tactics used by such groups in the late eighties.
Both attacks are seen as the extremist response to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, which was introduced by the UK government to strengthen police powers to direct protesters away from people's homes, including bans of up to three months
In the latest incident arsonists broke into Oxford University's Hertford College boathouse and ignited approximately 11 litres (2.42 gallons) of petrol over the property inside, using incendiary devices. 24 rowing boats as well as much of the interior were destroyed.
The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) claimed responsibility for the raid, posting details of the attack on the Bite Back magazine website.
In its claim on the website, the ALF said: "On July 4 an Animal Liberation Front cell travelled to Oxford armed with incendiary devices containing approximately 11 litres of petrol. At approximately 11pm they broke into Oxford University's Hertford College boathouse and deployed the devices among the boats. Before leaving they re-padlocked the door and glued all the locks to avoid the possibility of people entering before the devices ignited."
"The reason for the attack was as follows: Oxford University's holdings now own the contract to build the South Parks lab. As far as the ALF are concerned this means that Oxford University as a whole must accept the consequences. From here on nothing you own, rent or have dealings with is off limits until the project is scrapped. To warn builders and suppliers that they are going to get some, even if their involvement comes to light years later, we will not let you off the hook!"
Oxford University has been the focus of a series of unremitting attacks by animal activists in which the scale of their harassment has been gradually increasing. Work on a new primate laboratory was halted last year when the main contractors Montpellier pulled out after receiving threats from animal extremists.