2 arrested in California Planned Parenthood Clinic firebombing

“The device landed against a southern wall next to the glass door and broke out in a fire, which spread up the wall and across the ceiling above the glass door,” the complaint said, noting that the clinic, located at 1520 Nutmeg Place in Costa Mesa, had to close the next morning and cancel dozens of appointments. The building sustained approximately $1,000 in damage from the fire, according to the criminal report.

The Costa Mesa Police and Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze, which left burns several feet high, according to the document. Authorities also found liquid, broken glass and other materials later found to contain gasoline near the burn marks. No one was injured.

On March 14, Mr. Ergul showed a friend a photo of his gloved hand holding the Molotov cocktail, saying he wished he “could have recorded the burning,” according to the indictment. In early April 2022, after seeing a poster issued by federal authorities seeking information, the friend called to notify them of the message. In one of the text messages, Mr. Ergul said the Molotov cocktail went “BOOM” at the “1500 Blk nutmeg plaza … Costa Mesa health center/Planned Parenthood clinic,” according to the complaint.

The episode is part of a history of violent attacks against institutions or doctors performing abortions in the United States, including several in recent years. On December 31, 2021, a fire later determined to be arson completely destroyed a clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee. In January, a man bombed another clinic in Peoria, Illinois, citing his ex-girlfriend’s abortion.

Kate Corrigan, Mr Brennan’s lawyer, was reached by telephone and acknowledged that the allegations were “very serious”. She added: “we take them seriously and we will defend them accordingly.” Mr Ergul’s lawyers were not immediately available for comment on Wednesday afternoon.