Share

California Planned Parenthood site attacked by arsonist

It was not known if the clinic would reopen Thursday.

Advertisement

The sprinklers in the building were triggered, extinguishing the fire before firefighters arrived.

Thankfully, no one was present in the building when it was attacked.

Arson investigators with the Ventura County sheriff’s and fire departments were at the scene working to determine how the fire started.

“An incident like this, obviously they’re trying to get a point across-whatever that point might be”, Lohman told the TV station.

A day after a horrific crash in Miami that killed one person, seven others remain hospitalized as they continue to recover.

The fire was quickly put out by a sprinkler system, but there is still significant water damage inside.

The fire comes as the organization is the focus of a contentious nationwide debate about government funding of Planned Parenthood. The allegations were sparked a series of surreptitiously recorded videos published by an anti-abortion group called the Center for Medical Progress. Investigators are examining surveillance footage and whether any threats were made against the location. Late last month, Missouri became the sixth state to clear Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing.

Employees for Planned Parenthood were at the office Thursday morning assessing the damage from the fire and trying to reschedule appointments. Authorities determined the cause was arson. Dianne Feinstein said. “It sends a signal that using violence to close clinics and intimidate health care professionals and women is OK”.

Advertisement

Planned Parenthood has been under sustained attack on Capitol Hill and in the media stemming from videos, surreptitiously taken by anti-abortion activists posing as representatives of a biomedical company seeking to buy fetal tissues.

'Suspicious' Fire Investigated at Planned Parenthood in Thousand Oaks