This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/27/colorado-springs-shooting-planned-parenthood

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
Three dead after gunman storms Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Three dead after gunman storms Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado
(35 minutes later)
Three people have been killed after a gunman armed with a rifle stormed a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs and opened fire before an hours-long standoff with police ended when he surrendered.Three people have been killed after a gunman armed with a rifle stormed a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs and opened fire before an hours-long standoff with police ended when he surrendered.
Two civilians and one police officer died, Colorado Springs police chief Peter Carey told reporters about an hour after the suspect had been arrested.Two civilians and one police officer died, Colorado Springs police chief Peter Carey told reporters about an hour after the suspect had been arrested.
Another nine people were injured – five police officers and four civilians – but Carey said they were good condition at area hospitals.Another nine people were injured – five police officers and four civilians – but Carey said they were good condition at area hospitals.
Some staff escaped harm by following security protocol and hiding in specially designed “safe areas” at the building, reports said.Some staff escaped harm by following security protocol and hiding in specially designed “safe areas” at the building, reports said.
Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers confirmed the arrest of the gunman and commended police for their work in drawing to a close what he called a “terrible tragedy”.Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers confirmed the arrest of the gunman and commended police for their work in drawing to a close what he called a “terrible tragedy”.
Planned Parenthood is a women’s health clinic providing abortion services and family planning.
A Reuters photographer at the scene saw a man in a white T-shirt, with his hands cuffed behind his back, being placed in an unmarked squad car. Authorities said they did not know the suspect’s identity but believed he acted alone.A Reuters photographer at the scene saw a man in a white T-shirt, with his hands cuffed behind his back, being placed in an unmarked squad car. Authorities said they did not know the suspect’s identity but believed he acted alone.
The shooting unfolded on “an ordinary working day”, as patients waited for appointments and staff attended to them.The shooting unfolded on “an ordinary working day”, as patients waited for appointments and staff attended to them.
Gunshots were first reported at the Planned Parenthood clinic at 11.38am local time, Buckley said. The suspect was believed to be carrying a “long gun” – a term that usually refers to a rifle or shotgun – and also had with him bags and other “items”, possibly including propane tanks, Buckley said.Gunshots were first reported at the Planned Parenthood clinic at 11.38am local time, Buckley said. The suspect was believed to be carrying a “long gun” – a term that usually refers to a rifle or shotgun – and also had with him bags and other “items”, possibly including propane tanks, Buckley said.
By 4pm local time, police had begun to evacuate many of the people who were still inside the building. Officers were then able to enter the building and convince the gunman to surrender.By 4pm local time, police had begun to evacuate many of the people who were still inside the building. Officers were then able to enter the building and convince the gunman to surrender.
Suthers said authorities were able to help guide the movements of officers through the building by watching live feeds from surveillance cameras mounted inside.Suthers said authorities were able to help guide the movements of officers through the building by watching live feeds from surveillance cameras mounted inside.
But a city police spokeswoman, Lieutenant Catherine Buckley, said it took officers a number of hours to establish communication with the suspect before he gave himself up.But a city police spokeswoman, Lieutenant Catherine Buckley, said it took officers a number of hours to establish communication with the suspect before he gave himself up.
“We did get officers inside the building. They were able to shout to the suspect and make communication with him and at that point they were able to get him to surrender and he was taken into custody,” Buckley said.“We did get officers inside the building. They were able to shout to the suspect and make communication with him and at that point they were able to get him to surrender and he was taken into custody,” Buckley said.
After his arrest, explosives teams were at the scene, police said, to check for possible booby traps.After his arrest, explosives teams were at the scene, police said, to check for possible booby traps.
Footage from a local station, KKTV, showed police evacuating more than a dozen people, including patients and staff, from the building. People in a nearby shopping center and grocery store were told to “shelter in place”.Footage from a local station, KKTV, showed police evacuating more than a dozen people, including patients and staff, from the building. People in a nearby shopping center and grocery store were told to “shelter in place”.
Police declined to discuss the gunman’s motivations. But the president of the Rocky Mountains chapter of Planned Parenthood, Vicki Cowart, suggested a climate of rancor surrounding abortion in the United States had set the stage for such violence.Police declined to discuss the gunman’s motivations. But the president of the Rocky Mountains chapter of Planned Parenthood, Vicki Cowart, suggested a climate of rancor surrounding abortion in the United States had set the stage for such violence.
“We share the concerns of many Americans that extremists are creating a poisonous environment that feeds domestic terrorism in this country,” she said.“We share the concerns of many Americans that extremists are creating a poisonous environment that feeds domestic terrorism in this country,” she said.
Cowart told CNN separately that some of the clinic’s staff escaped the gunman by following security protocol and hunkering down in “safe rooms” built into the facility.Cowart told CNN separately that some of the clinic’s staff escaped the gunman by following security protocol and hunkering down in “safe rooms” built into the facility.
The dead policeman was named as 44-year-old Garrett Swasey, a campus officer for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs who responded with city police to the first reports of shots fired.The dead policeman was named as 44-year-old Garrett Swasey, a campus officer for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs who responded with city police to the first reports of shots fired.
The Colorado Springs clinic has been the target of repeated protests by anti-abortion activists, and in recent years moved to new quarters on the city’s northwest side – a facility derided as a “fortress” by critics of Planned Parenthood.The Colorado Springs clinic has been the target of repeated protests by anti-abortion activists, and in recent years moved to new quarters on the city’s northwest side – a facility derided as a “fortress” by critics of Planned Parenthood.
In Washington, according to protocol, Barack Obama was briefed on the unfolding situation, according to a White House official.In Washington, according to protocol, Barack Obama was briefed on the unfolding situation, according to a White House official.
The incident elicited a multi-agency response that included Colorado Springs police, the El Paso County sheriff’s department, the regional FBI office and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The incident elicited a multi-agency response that included Colorado Springs police, the El Paso County sheriff’s department, the regional FBI office and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Officials said victims had been transported to local hospitals. Penrose Hospital & St Francis Medical Center said it had received a total of six patients.Officials said victims had been transported to local hospitals. Penrose Hospital & St Francis Medical Center said it had received a total of six patients.
Mayor Suthers paid tribute to the police effort. “It was the most incredible work on behalf of officers trying to minimize the number of fatalities and get this guy in custody.”Mayor Suthers paid tribute to the police effort. “It was the most incredible work on behalf of officers trying to minimize the number of fatalities and get this guy in custody.”
The office of Colorado attorney general Cynthia Coffman said: “My thoughts & prayers are with the families of victims on today’s standoff in Colorado Springs. Tragic loss of life.”The office of Colorado attorney general Cynthia Coffman said: “My thoughts & prayers are with the families of victims on today’s standoff in Colorado Springs. Tragic loss of life.”
Vicki Saporta, president and chief executive of the National Abortion Federation, said her organisation had feared such an attack after the release of “highly edited, misleading anti-abortion videos was released in July”.Vicki Saporta, president and chief executive of the National Abortion Federation, said her organisation had feared such an attack after the release of “highly edited, misleading anti-abortion videos was released in July”.
“This clinic is part of the Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains affiliate, which was featured in one of the highly-edited smear videos released this summer. Since that video, the affiliate has seen an increase in protesters and death threats against one of their doctors.“This clinic is part of the Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains affiliate, which was featured in one of the highly-edited smear videos released this summer. Since that video, the affiliate has seen an increase in protesters and death threats against one of their doctors.
Although anti-abortion groups may condemn this type of violence when it happens, the way that they target and demonize providers contributes to a culture where some feel it is justifiable to murder doctors simply because they provide women with the abortion care they need.Although anti-abortion groups may condemn this type of violence when it happens, the way that they target and demonize providers contributes to a culture where some feel it is justifiable to murder doctors simply because they provide women with the abortion care they need.
“Since 1977, there have been 8 murders, 17 attempted murders, 42 bombings, 186 arsons, and thousands of incidents of criminal activities. The last abortion provider was murdered in 2009 when NAF member Dr. George Tiller was assassinated in his church in Wichita, Kansas.”“Since 1977, there have been 8 murders, 17 attempted murders, 42 bombings, 186 arsons, and thousands of incidents of criminal activities. The last abortion provider was murdered in 2009 when NAF member Dr. George Tiller was assassinated in his church in Wichita, Kansas.”
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for Cowart’s statement.Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for Cowart’s statement.
“Today and every day, we #StandWithPP,” Clinton posted.“Today and every day, we #StandWithPP,” Clinton posted.
In New York City, police were deployed to Planned Parenthood facilities.In New York City, police were deployed to Planned Parenthood facilities.
As in much of the rest of the country, abortion is a divisive issue in Colorado, figuring prominently in last year’s Senate race between Democrat Mark Udall and Republican challenger Cory Gardner, who won.As in much of the rest of the country, abortion is a divisive issue in Colorado, figuring prominently in last year’s Senate race between Democrat Mark Udall and Republican challenger Cory Gardner, who won.
Hundreds of protesters picketed in front of the clinic in August as part of a national push to cut off public funding for Planned Parenthood, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. In 2012, one man was charged with trespassing after flouting as many as 30 warnings to keep off clinic property, the paper said.Hundreds of protesters picketed in front of the clinic in August as part of a national push to cut off public funding for Planned Parenthood, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. In 2012, one man was charged with trespassing after flouting as many as 30 warnings to keep off clinic property, the paper said.
Republican presidential candidates have been vociferous proponents of cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood leadership has denied any wrongdoing by staff.Republican presidential candidates have been vociferous proponents of cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood leadership has denied any wrongdoing by staff.