US abortion debate inflamed as Scott Roeder is arrested for shooting dead George Tiller at church in Wichita, Kansas
The bitter dispute over abortion in the US has received a violent jolt after a doctor in Kansas, one of the few in the country to perform so-called late-term abortions, was shot dead at a church near his clinic.
George Tiller, 67, who had been targeted in other attacks over the years, was killed just after 10am yesterday in the lobby of the Reformation Lutheran church in Wichita, where he was acting as an usher during a morning service.
His wife, Jeanne, was singing in the choir at the time.
Barack Obama, whose election as president has intensified the abortion debate, condemned the shooting. "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence," he said in a statement.
A 51-year-old suspect in the shooting, named as Scott Roeder, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder and two charges of aggravated assault, according to the Associated Press. Internet postings showed that someone using the name Scott Roeder had expressed anti-abortion opinions and had singled out Tiller for criticism.
Churchgoers in Wichita were reported to have recognised the gunman, who they said had attended the church three or four times.
Tiller's death comes amid growing unease among anti-abortionists about Obama, whom they regard as an opponent.
They have been angered by some of Obama's early decisions, particularly his removal of restrictions imposed by George Bush on federal funding of stem cell research and on funding family planning services that carry out or assist abortions in foreign countries.
Two weeks ago, discontent between the anti-abortion movement and Obama boiled over when he gave a high-profile speech at a Catholic university in Indiana. There were protests and several arrests at the University of Notre Dame, and the president was heckled by some as he took on the abortion issue.
Obama told his audience that the number of women seeking abortions should be reduced, but that women still had the right to choose.
Tiller had been the target of threats, protests and violence over many years. His Wichita clinic is one of three in the US where abortions are performed after the 21st week of pregnancy. The attacks on him and the clinic reach as far back as June 1986, when a bomb was placed on the clinic's roof, seriously damaging it.
In 1993 he was attacked outside the clinic and shot in both arms. His assailant, a woman called Rachelle Shannon, remains in prison for the attack.
The most recent attack on the clinic was made a few weeks ago, when electricity cables to security cameras and outside lights were severed and the roof broken to allow rain through. The vandalism caused thousands of dollars' worth of damage, and Tiller is said to have asked the FBI to investigate.
Wichita police last night increased security outside the clinic.
Under Kansas law, late-term abortions can be performed on foetuses that would be viable outside the mother's womb but only if two independent doctors agree that not to do so would put the mother at risk of irreparable harm by giving birth.
The phenomenon has long been a focal point of anti-abortionist anger, as they see the procedure as murder. Earlier this year Tiller was put on trial in Wichita, accused of illegally performing 19 abortions in which he violated the state law requiring a second independent medical opinion.
In March, he was found not guilty on all 19 criminal charges. His supporters denounced the trial as a witch hunt.
Tiller's killing was quickly condemned by all sides. "It is abhorrent that, once again, individuals who oppose the right to choose have used violence to try to advance their extreme anti-choice agenda," said Vicki Saporta of the National Abortion Federation.
In a statement, Tiller's family described the shooting as "an unspeakable tragedy".
"This is particularly heart-wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace."
The family said their loss "is also a loss for the city of Wichita and women across America. George dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality health care despite frequent threats and violence."
The Rev Patrick Mahoney, an anti-abortion activist, also swiftly denounced the shooting: "No one should use this tragedy for political gain," he said.
A prominent anti-abortion organisation, Operation Rescue, said it was shocked by the news. "We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning," the group said in a statement. "We pray for Mr Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ." Operation Rescue organised a series of protests outside Tiller's clinic in the summer of 1991, under the banner Summer of Mercy.
But not everyone was willing to suspend the political fight out of respect for the victim. Randall Terry, a driven anti-abortionist who was among those arrested at the Notre Dame event, said: "George Tiller was a mass murderer and we cannot stop saying that. He was an evil man, his hands were covered with blood."
A candlelight vigil was due to be held last night outside the church where Tiller was shot dead.
Someone posting to the website of Operation Rescue in May 2007 used the name "Scott Roeder" in response to a planned vigil to "pray for an end to George R Tiller's late-term abortion business".
It said: "Bleass [sic] everyone for attending and praying in May to bring justice to Tiller and the closing of his death camp. Sometime soon, would it be feasible to organise as many people as possible to attend Tillers [sic] church (inside, not just outside) to have much more of a presence and possibly ask questions of the Pastor, Deacons, Elders and members while there? Doesn't seem like it would hurt anything but bring more attention to Tiller."
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