The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday arrested a man in connection with the firebombing of a pro-life organization’s office, which occurred just days after the Supreme Court draft decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was leaked, indicating the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
According to the Daily Caller, the man, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, age 29, allegedly firebombed the Wisconsin Family Action office in Madison, Wisconsin on May 8, 2022, Mother’s Day. He was arrested at a Boston airport on Tuesday while traveling one-way to Guatemala City, and was scheduled to appear in court the same day. Authorities used DNA samples from the scene compared with the DNA found on a partially eaten burrito to identify Roychowdhury, according to Reuters. Roychowdhury has been charged with one count of attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive.
Photo shared on the Wisconsin Family Action Facebook page.
In the attack, Wisconsin Family Action’s office was hit with Molotov cocktails, which were thrown into the building, starting a fire. The building was also painted with the threat, “If abortions aren’t safe, then you aren’t either.” When police arrived on the scene there was an active fire, and under a broken window was a broken mason jar with a disposable lighter near it. A second mason jar with the lid on and a blue singed cloth tucked into the top was half full of a clear fluid that smelled like an accelerant.
“According to the complaint, Mr. Roychowdhury used an incendiary device in violation of federal law in connection with his efforts to terrorize and intimidate a private organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “I commend the commitment and professionalism of law enforcement personnel who worked exhaustively to ensure that justice is served.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea credited the combined efforts of local and federal law enforcement with Roychowdhury’s arrest. The Madison Police Department, Wisconsin State Capital Police Department, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Boston Field Office, Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Air Marshal Service, and Transportation Security Administration all took part in the investigation that led to the arrest.
According to the DOJ press release, Roychowdhury faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
