ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997 TAG: 9701170100
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two bomb blasts an hour apart rocked a building containing an abortion clinic Thursday, injuring six people who had rushed to the scene of the first explosion, including federal agents, rescue workers and a TV cameraman.
``The second explosion is clearly designed to maim and hurt those who were coming to assist,'' said Mayor Bill Campbell. ``So we're dealing with a warped mind here.''
The explosions left the Atlanta Northside Family Planning Services clinic in ruins and blew out windows across the street. Police immediately tightened security at all other clinics in the city.
President Clinton condemned the explosions as ``a vile and malevolent act.''
``Make no mistake: Anyone who brings violence against a woman trying to exercise her constitutional rights is committing an act of terror,'' he said.
The first bomb went off at 9:30 a.m. near the clinic on the ground floor of a three-story office building that also houses lawyers, dentists and other professionals. The second bomb went off near a trash bin in the parking lot.
Investigators, police, journalists and bystanders who had gathered outside after the first explosion heard a loud boom and felt the concussion. They could see a bright flash and flying debris.
``It was scary as hell,'' said clinic counselor Geralyn Thompson, who arrived just after the first blast. ``I probably will never work at an abortion clinic again in Atlanta.''
All of the injuries appeared to be minor. An Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent was bleeding from the head and hands as he was carried to an ambulance. Two FBI agents, a firefighter, an ambulance worker and a television cameraman also were injured.
In Washington, Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick said there was no immediate claim of responsibility and that investigators were checking with law enforcement agencies to see if any warning was received.
A federal law enforcement official, demanding anonymity, warned investigators not to get ``locked in on the clinic.''
``We're not saying for sure that it was aimed at the clinic. We're being very careful because we have no evidence on the motivation,'' the official said, noting that there are other businesses in the building.
Employees of the Atlanta Northside clinic said it does not see patients every day and no patients were expected Thursday. The blast apparently took place at the back of the clinic, away from the only two employees there at the time.
The attacks came five days before the 24th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Patrick said the government has for several years sent alerts to state and local law enforcement agencies around the time of the anniversary to watch for violence. It was not immediately known if this year's alert had gone out yet.
Police evacuated other buildings after the second explosion about 10:30 a.m. and closed down nearby ramps to Interstate 285, which circles the city.
Campbell dispatched extra police officers to all abortion clinics in the city as a precaution. A nearby clinic was briefly evacuated after the second blast, but all said they would remain open.
U.S. Attorney Kent Alexander said investigators were combing the area to make sure there wasn't a third bomb. ``There's no reason to think there is, but there was no reason to think there was a second device,'' he said.
Alexander said that authorities would compare the case to the Olympic bombing last summer but that there was no reason yet to believe the cases are linked.
``We are not ruling out domestic terrorism unrelated to clinic violence,'' Alexander said.
While sympathetic to the people injured and frightened by the explosions Thursday, spokespersons for two Roanoke clinics that offer abortion services said the violence won't affect their routines.
The Roanoke Medical Center for Women has locked doors every day and a security guard is on duty on the day it does abortion procedures, a representative said.
"We treat every person who approaches the clinic as a potential terrorist," said Mona Barringer, counselor-coordinator.
Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge's Roanoke clinic also has had a tight security system for several years, said David Nova, director of public relations.
"We're taking as many precautions as we need to take," he said.
The clinic staff is kept keenly aware of the potential for violence with regular faxes detailing acts against Planned Parenthood nationally, he said.
There were, on average, five violent acts a month against Planned Parenthood clinics in 1996, Nova said.
Staff writer Sandra Brown Kelly contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP A man flees after a second bomb goes off Thursdayby CNBnear an Atlanta clinic where abortions sometimes are performed. This
blast injured six; an hour earlier, the first injured no one.
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