An arson fire at a Tamarac medical office where abortions are performed caused serious smoke damage but no injuries, police said.
Broward Sheriff's Office deputies responded to an alarm at the office of Dr. Michael Benjamin, 7707 N. University
On Thursday, BSO spokeswoman Liz Calzadilla said: ``We do not have any specific information that would link this incident to an extremist group. However, the fact that Dr. Benjamin does perform abortions causes concern for that possibility.''
The fire caused extensive smoke damage to the interior of the office, Calzadilla said.
A woman who answered the phone at his office Thursday said Benjamin is out of town. She said the office has been open this week, with a nurse-practitioner handling patients. She would not comment on the vandalism.
''We do believe that this arson occurred because the ob-gyn performed abortions,'' said Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, a pro-choice group based in Washington, D.C. The arson attack has the fingerprints of a politically motivated crime, Saporta said.
''He will not be intimidated by this kind of violence, from offering women services which protects their health and saves their lives,'' Saporta said of Benjamin, who is an NAF member.
''There's certainly a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the abortion folks,'' said Tom Brejcha, chief counsel of the St. Thomas More Society, a Catholic legal organization that represents the Pro-Life Action League.
Brejcha said that pro-choice activists often inaccurately classify crimes against abortion providers as politically motivated.
Violent protests against abortion providers are rare in Broward, Calzadilla said. On April 14, 2000, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the front door of the Fort Lauderdale Women's Center, 2001 W. Oakland Park Blvd, starting a small fire.
Benjamin, 63, has been in the news for his advocacy of a controversial sterilization procedure known as the quinacrine method, in which tiny pellets of quinacrine -- a drug originally used to treat malaria -- are inserted through the vagina into the uterus, where they cause scarring that blocks fallopian tubes and prevents eggs from reaching the uterus.
Detectives have not named a suspect or motive for the vandalism. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-TIPS.
''Obviously, someone is extremely angry, and we want to find out why they did this,'' said Calzadilla.
The FBI is now involved in the search for arsonists who may have targeted a Tamarac gynecologist because he performs abortions.The National Abortion Federation released the following statement on behalf of Michael Benjamin: "We believe he was targeted because he does provide women with abortions. He will continue to provide services. He will not be intimidated."