Incident Summary:

11/19/1984: In a series of two attacks, Kenneth Shields, Thomas Spinks, and Michael Donald Bray bombed the Metropolitan Medical and Women's Center in Wheaton, Maryland, United States. There were no casualties, but the abortion facility was destroyed resulting in $500,000 in damages.

GTD ID:
198411190008

When:
1984-11-19

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Maryland

City:
Wheaton

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Abortion Related
Name of Entity
Specific Description Metropolitan Medical & Women's Clinic
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 $500,000.00
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Pipe Bomb
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information This incident took place at 6:18 AM. This is part of a multiple attack with 198411190007. The bombs exploded eleven minutes apart and the facilities were one mile away from each other. Kenneth Shields, Thomas Spinks, and Michael Donald Bray claimed to be part of the Army of God.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Army of God No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 3
Number of Captured Perpetrators 3
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
Victoria Churchville, "Blasts Strike 2 Md. Clinics," Washington Post, November 20, 1984.
Sue Anne Pressley, "Unrepentant Clinic-Bombing Minister Out of Prison, Back in Pulpit," Schenectady Gazette, July 29, 1989.
"Federal Officials Advise Abortion Clinics to Beware After Series of Bomb Threats," St. Petersburg Times, November 30, 1984.