Police: Small explosive device found in backpack at Wichita women’s health clinic

WICHITA, Kan. – Police say a man is in custody after he brought a small improvised explosive device into a women’s health care clinic that provides abortions in south-central Kansas.

Wichita Police Department spokesman Doug Nolte says officers responded to the South Wind Women’s Center around 3:30 p.m. Monday. He says on-site security inspected a backpack the man brought in and found knives and the explosive device.

Clinic staff evacuated the building, and a bomb squad was called to remove the backpack. No injuries were reported.

Nolte says police are investigating whether the man intended to harm the clinic. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also investigating.

The clinic is one of three in Kansas that provide abortions. It opened in 2013 in the same building where Dr. George Tiller provided abortions before he was gunned down in 2009.