Arson Determined to Be Cause of Fire That Destroyed Tennessee Planned Parenthood Last Week

Law enforcement announced on Friday that arson was the cause of a Tennessee Planned Parenthood burning to the ground last week.

The Knoxville Fire Department announced in a tweet that, “KFD investigators, along with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, have conducted a thorough scene investigation of the December 31st Planned Parenthood fire. This fire has been determined to be a set fire.”

On Facebook, the department elaborated further, saying that they have not identified any suspects at this time. They also offered a reward of $10,000 “for information that would lead to the prosecution of anyone involved in any criminal activity related to this fire.”

The building was closed for renovations at the time of the fire and nobody was injured.

“This is an appalling and heartbreaking act of violence towards Planned Parenthood, our patients, and our community,” Ashley Coffield, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee & North Mississippi, said in a statement. “Although it will take time to rebuild, we are committed to our patients in East Tennessee and will not let this attack take away the essential health care services on which they rely.”

The Hill reports that “the clinic was targeted twice last year, with an unknown assailant firing a shotgun at the unoccupied building in January.”

 

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