Abortion Clinic in Capital Damaged by Bomb

A bomb damaged an abortion clinic in the nation’s capital early Tuesday but caused no injuries.

An outraged Mayor Marion Barry inspected the bombed clinic and described the blast as an act of “terrorism” comparable to the “Nazis in Germany” and the Ku Klux Klan.

No Link to Bombings

It was the third abortion facility to be bombed in the Washington area in two months and the eighth such blast in the area in two years.

Police said there was no immediate link to the Christmas bombings of three clinics in Pensacola, Fla., nor to the seven other bombings in the nation’s capital.

Federal agents said Monday that Matthew J. Goldsby, 21, who is charged with the Pensacola bombings, may be part of a “secret type organization” committing terrorist acts.

A second man, James Thomas Simmons, 21, of Cantonment, Fla., was arrested in Pensacola Tuesday in connection with the Florida attacks.

Simmons was charged with 16 counts of violating federal firearms and explosives laws for the three Christmas attacks and another bombing last June 25, said Tom Hill, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He and Goldsby were both being held without bail.

Two Dozen Clinics Hit

There were at least two dozen abortion-clinic bombings across the country in 1984.

Tuesday’s bombing occurred at the Hillcrest Women’s Surgi-Center in Southeast Washington. The inside walls of the clinic were damaged extensively and windows in buildings across the street were blown out.

Police said they have no suspects and no one called to claim responsibility.

“It is pure terror,” the mayor said. “We’ve got to find a way to stop these deranged people.” He then called on “the Jerry Falwells of the world to condemn such activities.”

Falwell later sent a telegram to Barry criticizing him for the remarks and condemning the bombing.

“Such violent and inhumane acts not only hurt those who are destroying the unborn, but do great damage to the anti-abortion cause,” Falwell said.