ENN FLASH Report 01/16/97 - 09:47CST

Twin Blasts in N. Atlanta - Abortion Clinic
By C. L. Staten, ERRI Senior Analyst

(ENN) Atlanta, GA - Preliminary reports are being received of two explosions at a suburban building that allegedly houses an abortion clinic. One reported explosion went off near the building prompting the response of Fulton County Police, Fire, EMS, and bomb squad personnel. Shortly thereafter, another explosion was heard. Initial reports suggest that at least two emergency responders may have been injured in the second blast. Some civilian injuries are also believed to have occurred. The severity of injuries received has not been ascertained at this time.

The Atlanta Mayor has sent a large task force of additional police officers to other locations known to contain "family planning facilities," and an additional response has been sent to the scene of the detonations. No one has claimed responsibility for the explosions at the time of this report, nor have authorities firmly determined that the abortion clinic was the target for the attack.

ENN continues to gather information regarding this incident and will provide additional "instant updates" as they become available.

ENN "Instant Update" 01/16/97 - 10:22CST

Fulton County Fire Dept. Responds to Explosions
By ENN News Team

(ENN) Via ENN correspondent in Atlanta, GA -- A building that houses an abortion clinic, located at Carpenter and Roswell Rd. in North suburban Atlanta was badly damaged by an explosion, shortly after 09:30 this morning. The Fulton County Fire Dept responded to the scene, along with Police and EMS units. The Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) were also dispatched to assist.

As the preliminary investigation continued, a secondary explosion followed at about 10:30. The secondary device was reportedly larger than the first, according to witnesses. Two firefighters and several civilians were reportedly injured by the second blast. ERRI counter-terrorist (CT) analysts said that the use of a command detonated or timed secondary device is one commonly used to injure or kill rescuers that have been sent to the scene. One eyewitness said that today's explosions were very reminiscent of the device that went off in Centennial Park during the Olympic games.

The Federal Bureau of investigation has been dispatched to the scene and will probably assume a lead role in the now on-going investigation. Several other special teams of Explosive Ordinance Disposal personnel are either on the scene or enroute at the time of this report. No claim of responsibility has been made, nor firm motive established. ENN continues to follow events in Atlanta and will provide updates as necessary.

"Instant Analysis" - RE: Fulton County, GA - 13:27CST

By Paul Copher, former EOD instructor, ENN Counter-Terrorist Analyst-at-Large

I noted the film showed a pressure wave which will happen in damp air. The tactic of one device being detonated to draw in the media, medical, and police/fire and following it with a second fragmentation anti personnel device is often used by terrorists. I was glad to see the FBI finally counting abortion clinic bombings as terrorism. For years, they said it was a "domestic issue".

Also noted the grey smoke and amount of dirt thrown into the air. Several pounds of dynamite or TNT, at least, with the dumpster turned into a large pipe bomb. From the film it did not look like plastique. Maybe binary construction explosive or ANFO with TNT booster ??? Timing or command detonated ??? [still open to question, based on investigation]

Noted people holding hands over ears. The pressure wave and enclosed (if in or directed by dumpster) or shaped wave due to car location-geography can amplify the charges sound and rupture eardrums.

Excerpted from ENN Daily Intelligence Report - 01/17/97 - Vol. 3, No. 017

TWO BOMBS EXPLODE IN SUBURBAN ATLANTA

By Steve Macko, ENN Editor

SANDY SPRINGS, GEORGIA (ENN) - Six people, including three federal law enforcement officers, were injured on Thursday morning when two powerful explosions rocked the outside of a suburban Atlanta office building that housed an abortion clinic.

Though the office building near where the two bombs exploded contains an abortion clinic, federal investigators said that they still could not rule out unrelated domestic terrorism.

The first bomb went off at about 0930 EST at one side of the office building. No injuries were reported in this blast. Police, fire, and investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation immediately responded to the scene.

At a little past 1030 EST, a second bomb that was hidden in a garbage container behind a fence in the corner of the building's parking lot went off. This blast, that was captured by television cameras, knocked people to the ground and injured six people, including three ATF federal law enforcement agents.

One witness described, "There was a big blast. It was almost like someone pushed you as hard as you possibly could be pushed." The witness was correct. Television video clearly showed the percussion of the blast striking people from several feet away. A large amount of dirt and debris was seen flying into the air from the blast, almost looking like a large land mine going off in a war movie.

U.S. Attorney Kent Alexander said that investigators are also looking into the backgrounds of other occupants in the building, besides the abortion clinic. One employee from the clinic said that the office had never even received a threat of violence in the past. Alexander said, "We are not ruling out the possibility of domestic terrorism unrelated to clinic violence."

Next Wednesday marks the 24th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Roe v Wade -- which recognizes the right of a woman to have an abortion. When the blasts happened, there was also a news conference being held in Washington that was announcing that the number of attacks on abortion clinics had dropped substantially in 1996.

In Washington, a Justice Department official said that federal law enforcement was going to employ "a full court press" to find the perpetrator(s) of the bombing in suburban Atlanta.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Deval Patrick, the head of the Justice Department's civil rights division said, "It is not possible for the Justice Department to take these incidents more seriously."

Patrick said that the Justice Department was not aware of any warning to federal law enforcment agencies of a bomb. He said, "We presume the clinic was the target." He added that investigators were still keeping an open mind as to the motive.

Persons with ANY information regarding today's blasts are asked to call:

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