The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said the January 1997 bombing of an Atlanta abortion clinic in the Sandy Springs Professional Building may have been committed by the same person or persons who bombed the Olympic Park last summer, and The Otherside Lounge, a lesbian nightclub, in February of this year.

The FBI has also extended its $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Olympic Park bomb, to the bombings of the abortion clinic and nightclub.

"For years our research has shown that those who commit anti-abortion violence are not single-issue," said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation. "These extremists' writings are not only virulently anti-abortion, but they are also often anti-family planning, anti-gay, anti-Semitic, and anti-federal government."

The FBI released to the public letters written by a group calling itself "The Army of God," which claimed responsibility for the bombs at the abortion clinic and nightclub. The FBI's Web site shows these letters as well as drawings of two suspects. Anyone who may have any information about these letters or incidents is asked to call (888) ATF-BOMB.

During the first five months of 1997, eleven bombings and arsons have occurred at abortion clinics - the highest level of anti-abortion violence since 1984. Yet few people hear of these violent incidents because the media has virtually stopped covering anti-abortion violence.

The Lovejoy Surgicenter in Portland, Oregon was arsoned on May 23rd, after a week of threatening phone calls. The clinic suffered $250,000 in damages. An arson attack at the Piedmont-Carolina Medical Clinic in Greensboro, NC, resulted in $50,000 worth of damages. Because of this arson, there are currently no abortion services in Greensboro.

Previous violent incidents during 1997 include: arson at a clinic in Falls Church, VA which caused $25,000 in damages; two bombs at Reproductive Services and Adoption Affiliates clinic in Tulsa, OK, as well as shooting of office equipment, resulting in severe damage; attempted bombing at the Family Planning Associates clinic in Bakersfield, CA; attempted arson at Planned Parenthood in Yakima, WA; "molotov cocktails" thrown through the windows of clinics in North Hollywood, CA and Tulsa, OK; bombings at Northside Family Planning Services in Atlanta, GA. An arson attack at Dr. Susan Wicklund's clinic in Bozeman, MT was the last straw after years of anti-abortion violence and harassment, causing Wicklund to decide to sell her clinic.

"Except for the Atlanta bombings in which law enforcement personnel were injured, the media has largely ignored this increase in violence against abortion clinics," said Kathy Spillar, National Coordinator of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal has called for anti-abortion violence to be officially classified as "domestic terrorism," which would provide more law enforcement resources and funds to stop the violence.