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Albuquerque abortion clinic fire was arson, feds say

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One of Albuquerque's most prominent abortion clinics was set afire by arsonists, authorities say.

No one was injured in the fire late Thursday, which destroyed an exam room at Abortion Acceptance of Albuquerque, said Jake Gonzales, of the Albuquerque office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Guests at a nearby hotel overlooking the clinic near Lomas Boulevard Northeast and I-25 told detectives they saw two hooded figures outside the clinic windows just before the fire was reported at about 11:30 p.m., Gonzales said.

They also heard a loud boom, which Gonzales said came from gasoline fumes igniting in the exam room.

The arsonists dumped a small gasoline canister in the room, then lit it as they stood outside, he said.

Samples from the room have been collected and sent to the ATFE's laboratories, Gonzales said.

Meanwhile, anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 823-STOP.

This is the first time in 12 years Albuquerque has experienced an attack on an abortion clinic.

A Planned Parenthood of New Mexico office and offices of Abortion and Reproductive Services were set on fire in 1995. Ricky Lee McDonald was found guilty of the arsons.

Physician Curtis Boyd owns the Albuquerque clinic set on fire Thursday, said Alexis Rice, spokeswoman for the National Abortion Federation, a trade group for abortion providers. Rice said Boyd has been practicing abortions and reproductive services in Albuquerque for about 35 years.

Planned Parenthood of New Mexico spokeswoman Martha Edmands said her clinics were on alert Friday after news of the fire.