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This is an archive article published on June 1, 2009
Abortion doctor gunned down at US church
Dr George Tiller,a prominent advocate for abortion rights who was wounded by a protester more than a decade ago,was shot and killed on Sunday at a church in Wichita.
Written by Associated Press
Kansas | June 1, 2009 11:33 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
Dr George Tiller,a prominent advocate for abortion rights who was wounded by a protester more than a decade ago,was shot and killed on Sunday at a church in Wichita where he was serving as an usher and his wife was in the choir,his attorney said.
Tiller was shot during morning services at Reformation Lutheran Church,attorney Dan Monnat said. Police said a manhunt was under way for the shooter,who fled in a car registered to a Kansas City suburb nearly 320 kms away.
National anti-abortion groups had long focused on Tiller,whose Women8217;s Health Care Services clinic is one of just three in the US where abortions are performed after the 21st week of pregnancy.
In 1991,the Summer of Mercy protests organised by Operation Rescue drew thousands of anti-abortion activists to this city for demonstrations marked by civil disobedience and mass arrests.
Some abortion opponents had resorted to attacks against Tiller and his Women8217;s Health Care Services clinic long before Sunday8217;s shooting. A protester shot Tiller in both arms in 1993,and his clinic was bombed in 1985.
Operation Rescue issued a statement denouncing the shooting.
8220;We are shocked at this morning8217;s disturbing news that Mr Tiller was gunned down,8221; said Troy Newman,Operation Rescue8217;s president.
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