From news services
Tuesday, October 25, 1994; Page A15

Rachelle Shannon, an antiabortion extremist in prison for trying to murder a doctor, has been charged in 10 arson and acid attacks at abortion clinics in the West, the Justice Department said yesterday.

It said federal grand juries in Portland, Ore., and Sacramento, Calif., last week returned indictments totaling 30 counts charging her with attacks in Oregon, California, Nevada and Idaho in 1992-93 .

Shannon, 38, of Grants Pass, Ore., is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder and shooting of physician George Tiller in 1993 outside his Wichita, Kan., abortion clinic.

Department prosecutors said they would seek to have Shannon brought to Portland for trial. She would face a separate trial in Sacramento.

Charges include arson, interference with commerce by force and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

The department under Attorney General Janet Reno has been under pressure from abortion rights advocates to crack down on violence at abortion clinics.

Prosecutors said the indictments capped a lengthy investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI.