Pro-life Washington GOP lawmaker has his office firebombed – marking the SEVENTEENTH arson

A pro-life Republican politician had his office firebombed on Monday, the latest in a spate of attacks against pregnancy centers and pro-life officials in the wake of a bombshell leaked Supreme court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v Wade.

Andrew Barkis, a Republican representing the Olympia in the Washington state legislature, had his Olympia office attacked around 4 a.m.

It was not clear whether he was deliberately attacked for his beliefs. The same group of people were also seen ransacking a nearby antique center 20 minutes later. 

Two masked people were caught on a Ring camera installed outside the building breaking a window with a hammer, and throwing a lit flare into the building.

There were no injuries, and no one has claimed responsibility.

Two masked individuals are seen in the early hours of Monday walking up to Andrew Barkis’s office door. The person on the right smashed the door with a hammer; the individual to the left is throwing a lit flare inside

The first person can be seen raising their right arm with a hammer, to smash through the door

The figure can be seen watching as the flare takes hold inside the building

20 minutes later, three suspects – including the two seen at Barkis’s office – were seen breaking into Lighthouse Antiques, said Lt. Paul Lower of Olympia police.

The gang got away with $5,000 worth of goods, and broke a skylight estimated at $2,000, The Olympian reported.

‘Two of the three suspects are clearly the suspects from the flare-attempted arson,’ a police report reads, giving rise to suspicion that the attack on Barkis’s office may have been a distraction.

Yet JT Wilcox, the House minority leader for Washington state, said he was convinced his colleague had been attacked for his pro-life views.

Andrew Barkis, a Republican representative in Washington’s state legislature, is said to believe the attack on his office was deliberate

Since the draft Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade was published on May 2, at least 17 pregnancy clinics and pro-life centers have been attacked. 

Many of the sites have been daubed with graffiti vowing revenge on those who curtail abortion rights. 

It also comes after a 26-year-old Californian man was arrested outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh – a pro-life member of the court – and admitted he intended to kill Kavanaugh for his position on Roe v. Wade. 

Wilcox connected the attack on his colleague to this spate of threats – and said that Barkis will now be forced to permanently look over his shoulder.

‘An attack like this changes you forever,’ Wilcox tweeted. 

‘On the same day unhinged partisans publish a list including Andrew as an extremist, something we all know is BS. The graphic included a lit fuse. Sick.’

It was unclear what list he was referring to. 

Barkis has not commented, but Wilcox said his colleague believes he was deliberately targeted.

‘I think that this is clearly targeted, I don’t think it would be easy to make a case that this was a random event,’ Wilcox told MyNorthwest.com, noting the use of a ‘hammer and flare which people don’t just have on them.’ 

Jay Inslee, the Democrat governor of Washington, who opposes repealing Roe v Wade, also condemned the attack.

‘Such attempts at violence are abhorrent,’ Inslee said. 

‘We’re thankful no one was hurt. Hopefully, law enforcement is able to identify these individuals before they inflict any more harm.’