‘Suspicious Package’ Disrupts Christian Organization’s Pro-Life Event

More than 85 people attending a pro-life event in Minnesota on Sept. 18 were forced to evacuate after a 19-year-old man set off what police believe to be a stink bomb, according to Bring Me The News.

The Christian organization that put the kickoff event together at Rochester Community and Technical College Hill Theatre in Rochester, Minnesota, is called 40 Days for Life. According to its statement, “an individual witnesses observed acting erratically left a suspicious package with the intention of intimidating and harming our peaceful volunteers attending the event.” Though campus security worked to evacuate everyone after audience members smelled ammonia, no one was injured.

Acts like this will not stop the group from “standing up for the rights of the unborn,” the statement went on to say. There is no current evidence indicating the suspect’s motive.

According to The Bemidji Pioneer, the suspect left an open water bottle, from which sulfide gas was allegedly released, inside the theater.

Rochester police arrested Samuel Vanderwiel, per Fox News, charging him with one felony count of terroristic threats with reckless disregard as well as the following misdemeanors: one count of 5th-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct and one count of public nuisance.

“We will remain steadfast and determined in our mission to peacefully save lives and end abortion as we head into the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever with more than 500 cities in 30 countries participating,” the statement issued by 40 Days for Life concluded.

The organization holds internationally coordinated, biannual prayer vigils outside abortion facilities in various communities for 40 days straight. During that time, 40 Days for Life encourages people to fast and pray that America will “end the injustice of abortion.”