Abortion Clinics Warned to Increase Security Today

Women's health clinics around the U.S. and Canada are being urged to increase security and awareness today, because of a history of violence during this time. Since 1994 there have been five sniper attacks on U.S. and Canadian physicians who perform abortions. All of these attacks have occurred on or close to Canada's Remembrance Day, Nov. 11. All of the victims were shot in their homes. Three of the five were severely injured and one, Dr. Barnett Slepian, was killed. Inspector Keith McCaskill of the Winnipeg, Canada police department has been working on a combined U.S.- Canadian task force set up in 1997 to address the increased risks. "We've learned that based on the similarities that all five shootings are likely linked," said McCaskill, who added that the task force has stressed to clinics and doctors to increase their precautions and to be aware that anti-abortion extremist James Charles Kopp, who has been charged with Dr. Slepian's murder in the U.S. and is a suspect in three Canadian shootings, is still a fugitive. In the U.S., Kopp has been placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and rewards totaling nearly $1 million have been offered for his arrest.

Media Resources: New York Times - November 11, 1999 and Anti-Abortion Violence Watch, FMF, October 1999

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