Abortion Advocate Attacks Pro-Life Group’s Office, Tries to Disable Security System

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 26, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Abortion Advocate Attacks Pro-Life Group’s Office, Tries to Disable Security System

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 26
, 2009

Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) — An abortion advocate attacked the national headquarters of the pro-life group Operation Rescue on Friday. The attack, which came weeks after the shooting of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller, saw someone attempt to disable the pro-life organization’s security system.

Operation Rescue is located in the same central Kansas city where Tiller ran his late-term abortion business and was killed.

The incident could be seen as a retaliation for that killing, even though Operation Rescue was not involved in it.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon and Troy Newman, the group’s president, heard a noise through his office window. He observed the assailant through the security cameras attempting to gain access to the roof.

Newman rushed outside and confronted the man, who then tried to punch Newman. When that failed, he flung his bicycle at Newman and then fled the scene.

One security camera was stolen causing an estimated $1,000 in damage.

Police were called and a report was filed, but the suspect is still at large.

Newman was on the phone with a reporter from the Washington Times at the time of the incident and was ironically talking about the death threats his group has received in the weeks following the Tiller shooting.

"In light of the recent events, the targeting of our security system is troubling," he told LifeNews.com.

Newman said local police officials were not as cooperative as they could have been: "We can’t help but think that if this attack happened to an abortion clinic, there would be federal marshals patrolling and investigating. The police seemed apathetic. It’s almost as if pro-lifers are second-class citizens."

"We are just thankful that no one was injured and that the attacker was interrupted before he could do more damage. We will be increasing our security precautions as a result of this incident. We have a very dedicated staff, and no amount of intimidation will deter us from our work," he added.

Operation Rescue has released a video from their security cameras showing the attacker who attempted to disable the security system.

The video shows the suspect lurking outside its headquarters before the incident.

The man who is alleged to have shot Tiller, Scott Roeder, has no links to any legitimate pro-life group other than a couple of postings on a public forum on a pro-life web site. Otherwise, he has never been a volunteer of, staff member of or in any way associated with either national, state or local pro-life groups.

That and hundreds of condemnations of the Tiller shooting from pro-life groups hasn’t stopped abortion advocates from exploiting Tiller’s death for political gain and blaming pro-life advocates for his death.

The Obama administration has also come under fire for ignoring alleged vandalism of another abortion center prior to the shooting.

Related web sites:
Operation Rescue – https://www.operationrescue.org

Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report
Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.