A woman threw a Molotov cocktail at three pro-life volunteers who were praying in front of a Planned Parenthood facility in Austin, Texas, Monday night.
One of the three women saw the flaming cocktail coming directly at her, and was able to dodge it and stamp it out. Another woman got the woman’s license plate number, and police later arrested her.
The women were volunteering for the Central Texas Coalition for Life, whose executive director, Heather Gardner, recounted the details to The Daily Caller News Foundation. “People will throw eggs or styrofoam cups or get verbally aggressive, but nothing violent like this happen before,” Gardner said.
The cocktail, pictured below, was a large napkin inside what appears to be a plastic Gumout Gas Treatment bottle. It’s unclear what, if any liquid is in it.
Molotov cocktail thrown at prayer volunteer. (Photo: Central Texas Coalition for Life)
Volunteers from the coalition have been praying outside the Planned Parenthood facility 12 hours a day, seven days a week — in one hour shifts — for more than 30 days, and will continue through day 40 on Sunday. They’re taking part in an international prayer vigil called 40 Days for Life.
The three women were about 20 minutes into their shift when the woman showed up. The bomb squad and Federal Bureau of Investigation were called to the scene, and the suspect was later apprehended. No one was injured.
“The safety of our volunteers is of utmost importance which is why it is necessary to have at least 2 people praying at all times,” Gardner said in a statement on the group’s Facebook page. “Our approach has always been that we have a peaceful prayerful attitude and be aware of our surroundings, which is what these volunteers exemplified.
“Let us pray for all involved. Thank you to everyone who boldly takes a stand for life!”
The Austin Police Department confirmed there was an aggravated assault at the Planned Parenthood at 6:13 p.m., and that a woman was arrested, but is still investigating and cannot yet provide further details.
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