Incident Summary:

4/19/1984: Curtis Beseda set fire to the Everett Feminist Women's Health Care Center in Everett, Washington, United States. There were no casualties but the building sustained $70,000 in damages.

GTD ID:
198404190011

When:
1984-04-19

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Washington

City:
Everett

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Abortion Related
Name of Entity
Specific Description Everett Feminist Women's Health Care Center
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage $70,000.00
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Gasoline or Alcohol
Weapon Details
Gasoline fire
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information After the incident, the abortion clinic ceased operation. Curtis Beseda set fires at the same facility on two separate occasions (198312030005 and 198403260022). Beseda pled guilty and was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Anti-Abortion extremists No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 1
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Man Admits Setting Fires at Abortion Clinics," Associated Press, November 10, 1984.
"Bail Set For Suspect in Everett Clinic Fire," Eugene Register-Guard, July 21, 1984.
"Abortion Clinic Attacks," Washington Post, January 6, 1985.