Fire at Washington Planned Parenthood Labeled an Arson

A Washington-area Planned Parenthood was set ablaze early Friday morning is being investigated as an act of arson, authorities say.

The Planned Parenthood clinic in Pullman, Wash. was seriously damaged by the fire. Authorities told the Spokesman-Review newspaper that the facility could be closed for at least a month as a result of the blaze.

Planned Parenthood officials have condemned the act. “This is an appalling act of violence towards Planned Parenthood, but unfortunately a predictable ripple effect from the false and incendiary attacks that fuel violence from extremists,” “Karl Eastlund, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, said in a statement, according to the paper.

Local and federal authorities are involved in the investigation of the fire, which was immediately considered suspicious given the time of the incident—3:30 A.M.

The incident follows a wave of protests against the organization’s abortion practices over the summer, largely due to secretly recorded videos about the donation of fetal tissue. According to the Associated Press, there was a protest at the Pullman clinic on Aug. 22.

[Spokesman-Review]