Oxford University was today seeking to extend an injunction against animal rights protesters campaigning against its new animal research laboratory.
The university said the number of threats and incidents of criminal damage had risen since building work on the £18m centre resumed in November.
The university is returning to the High Court to try to extend the exclusion zone around the building site in South Parks Road, Oxford.
The move comes days after Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the "appalling" actions of animal rights extremists and pledged to sign an online petition supporting animal testing.
At present, the university has temporary injunctions that limit when and how protests can take place, and also protect a wide group of university-related people from harassment.
It allows a demonstration opposite the site on Thursday afternoons, but bans other protest activities within the exclusion zone.
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