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Teen arrested in Tulsa clinic bombings
February 6, 1997Web posted at: 8:15 EST
TULSA, Oklahoma (CNN) -- Police arrested a 15-year-old boy Thursday in connection with three recent attacks on a Tulsa family planning clinic. The teen is also suspected in two other clinic attacks last year, the FBI said.
The Reproductive Services and Adoptions Affiliates clinic was firebombed on New Year's Day and again January 19. No one was injured, but the blasts caused minor damage.
On February 2, the clinic, which performs abortions and other gynecological services, was broken into and several gunshots were fired into medical equipment.
The FBI released a sketch of a suspect Wednesday and several hours later a caller contacted a police hotline with a tip that led to the teen's arrest, FBI spokesman Dan Vogel said.
A search of his home Thursday morning uncovered "several weapons," Vogel said. The boy, whose name was being withheld because of his age, was taken into custody while the search continued.
The FBI spokesman would not speculate on a possible motive.
The boy has been charged with juvenile delinquency under federal law, but a hearing will be held to decide if he will be prosecuted as an adult.
If he is treated as an adult, the 15-year-old could also face charges relating to two similar attacks in September against a Planned Parenthood family planning clinic in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Vogel said.
"We always thought that the attacks were related," Vogel said.
Related stories:
- Feds: Recent Atlanta bombings the work of different people - January 23, 1997
- Bombs rattle Tulsa abortion clinic - January 19, 1997
- Explosion damages Atlanta family planning clinic - January 17, 1997
- Blasts probed at Atlanta family planning clinic - January 16, 1997
- Report finds drop in abortion-clinic violence - April 5, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- Planned Parenthood
- National Abortion Rights and Reproductive Rights Action League
- Operation Rescue National
- FBI
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
- American Red Cross response to explosions
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