A pro-life clinic in Peoria, Illinois suffered $250,000 in damages after the building was intentionally set on fire, the Journal Star reports.
The blaze at the Peoria Women’s Care Center, which “provides free, confidential counseling, support, and education for pregnant women,” was first reported to the fire department last week in the middle of the night. While the fire, which caused widespread smoke and heat damage, was quickly put out by firefighters, investigations later indicated the building was intentionally set ablaze.
“It wasn’t clear what led investigators to determine it was arson, but the fire department said the office of the state fire marshal as well as the Peoria Police Department were assisting in the investigation,” reported the Journal Star.
Peoria Fire Division Chief Stan Taylor said that it is still unclear if the motive for the arson is linked to anti-abortion or pro-abortion beliefs.
“We’re kind of treating this very carefully, in case it was an intentional set fire, with the intent of something like that,” Taylor said.
ATF and FBI agents have also joined the investigation into who may have started the fire and why, according to Heart of Illinois ABC.
While the pro-life clinic is still recovering, Women’s Care Center Director Connie McClure promised the organization would “continue to care for the women that need us.”
In addition to offering free pregnancy testing, the national Women’s Care Center network, which stretches across 11 states, also provides free ultrasounds and counseling in the hopes that women will change their minds about abortion.
