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
.