Florida Officials Investigate Fire at Abortion Clinic

By Kris Coombs, Christian Post Contributor Monday, January 02, 2012

Officials in Pensacola, Fla., say evidence from a peculiar fire that tore through a Florida Panhandle abortion clinic has been sent to a state lab for testing.

The state and city fire marshals are currently investigating the fire at American Family Planning, which took place early New Year’s Day, according to Pensacola's Fire Prevention Bureau.

American Family Planning pays for off-duty Pensacola police to provide them security. Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons told Fox10 he was unaware of any recent complaints on criminal activity at the clinic.

The clinic has been the target of abortion protesters for decades. In 1984, the clinic was bombed, and in 1994, a volunteer and a doctor were shot and killed as they arrived at the site.

Many states have created new restrictions on abortion laws in 2011. In June, Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed a measure into law that bans health insurance coverage of abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest. The law went into effect in July.

New laws restricting abortion practices throughout the United States are expected in 2012.

No one was injured in the fire on Sunday.