Man charged for trying to burn down Planned Parenthood clinic

A 42-year-old man was charged Monday for attempting to burn down a Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia, Mo., The Associated Press reports.

Wesley Brian Kaster was arrested Saturday for a charge related to the Feb. 10 fire at the Planned Parenthood-Columbia Health Center, federal prosecutor say.

{mosads}There were no injuries in the fire, and no one was inside the building at the time. The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system in the clinic.

Authorities say they believe Kaster broke the clinic’s front door and threw in a “Molotov cocktail-type device.”

That device did not lead to a fire, but authorities allege that Kaster then returned an hour later with something in his hand, and surveillance video later showed smoke billowing from the building.

Firefighters found the remains of the Molotov cocktail and two 5-gallon buckets near spilled gasoline that was found inside the clinic.

If set intentionally, the fire could be a violation of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a civil rights law protecting reproductive health facilities.

The FBI announced in February that it would be investigating the fire as a possible hate crime.

Planned Parenthood is a leading provider of abortions, and the group’s clinics have repeatedly been targeted. 

In November 2016, three people were killed in a shooting at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Planned Parenthood has repeatedly been a subject of debate in Congress, where Republicans have sought to cut off the group from all federal funds. 

Democrats have defended federal funds for the organization, which provides a wide variety of women’s health care programs. 

Federal law prohibits funds from being used for abortion.