Gunman opens fire at planning centre in Colorado

The shooter entered the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Friday evening and held clinic staff and patients hostage for several hours, according to officials. During that time, he exchanged gunfire with the police.

The gunman surrendered to the police after more than five to six hours of standoff in which nine other persons including five police officers were injured, just a day after millions of Americans celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday. Officials said they do not know the motive of the shooter yet. “The perpetrator is in custody,” Colorado Spring Mayor John Suthers said at a news conference.

The police said the shooter was armed with a long gun and also brought into the building several “items” that could be explosive devices. The gunman was described as a stocky, bearded white male wearing a trench coat. The FBI too joined the investigation.

“Since a series of highly-edited, misleading anti-abortion videos was released in July, we have seen an unprecedented increase in hate speech and threats against abortion providers. We have been quite worried that this increase in threats would lead to a violent attack like we saw today,” said Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation. At least four Planned Parenthood clinics have been targeted for arson since the videos were released. Concerned Women for America CEO and president Penny Nance said that there is nothing remotely ‘pro-life’ about vigilante violence against another human being.