RENO, Nev. — Animal rights activists are claiming responsibility for an arson fire that destroyed the Reno business office of a company that ships monkeys from China for scientific research in the United States and elsewhere.

Reno police and fire officials began investigating the claim by the Animal Liberation Front after The Associated Press sought comment about an e-mail the clandestine group of animal liberationists circulated to media outlets on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Steve Frady confirms they consider the e-mail to be a "lead" in the case. But he says they have no physical evidence to link to the May 18 fire that caused $300,000 damage at Scientific Resources International Inc. just southwest of downtown Reno. The fire caused an estimated $300,000 damage.