DATE=1/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226068
TITLE=CLINIC BOMBING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MIKE COOPER
DATELINE=BIRMINGHAM,AL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN EXPLOSION AT A WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINIC IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, THURSDAY KILLED A POLICE OFFICER AND
SERIOUSLY INJURED A NURSE WHO WORKED AT THE CLINIC. INVESTIGATORS
SAY A HOMEMADE BOMB CAUSED THE EXPLOSION AT THE CLINIC WHERE
ABORTIONS ARE PERFORMED. MIKE COOPER REPORTS FROM BIRMINGHAM,
ALABAMA.
TEXT: HUNDREDS OF INVESTIGATORS ARE COMBING THE AREA AROUND THE NEW
WOMAN ALL WOMEN HEALTH CARE CLINIC NEAR DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM. THEY
ARE GATHERING EVIDENCE AND EXAMINING DEBRIS TO HELP THEIR
INVESTIGATION. THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED JUST A FEW DAYS
AFTER THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF A U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION
LEGALIZING ABORTION. THE BOMB KILLED BIRMINGHAM POLICE OFFICER
ROBERT SANDERSON. IT SHATTERED WINDOWS AND TORE AWNINGS ON THE
FRONT OF THE TWO-STORY BUILDING.
JAMES CAVANAUGH OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND
FIREARMS SAYS INVESTIGATORS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT A HOMEMADE BOMB
WAS LEFT A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THE CLINIC'S FRONT ENTRANCE. MR.
CAVANAUGH SAYS IT WAS CLEARLY INTENDED TO HURT OR KILL PEOPLE
NEARBY.
/// CAVANAUGH ACTUALITY ///
"THE DEVICE WAS NOT AN EXTREMELY LARGE DEVICE DESIGNED TO
DAMAGE PROPERTY. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT MORE AS A SMALLER DEVICE
THAT WAS DESIGNED TO KILL OR INJURE."
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERING THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE EXPLOSION IS LINKED TO TWO BOMBS THAT WENT
OFF JUST OVER ONE YEAR AGO AT A WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINIC IN
SUBURBAN ATLANTA AND TO THE EXPLOSION DURING THE 1996 SUMMER
OLYMPICS WHICH KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED 111. THOSE BOMBINGS
REMAIN UNSOLVED.
OFFICIALS BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST FATAL BOMBING AT AN ABORTION
CLINIC, THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST 200
ATTACKS ON CLINICS SINCE IT BEGAN TRACKING THEM IN 1982. THE
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTOR HERE SAYS HE WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY
AGAINST ANYONE CONVICTED OF THE LATEST BOMBING. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
29-Jan-98 9:36 PM EST (0236 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
