A Wisconsin man, who detonated a bomb at a Madison office building in May 2022, has recently pleaded guilty to the charges. The bombing sparked conversations on public safety, as the suspect was also linked to an extremist group advocating for abortion rights.
In an official press release by the Department of Justice (DOJ), it was revealed that Wisconsin resident Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury admitted guilt to charges related to damaging property through means of fire or explosive devices. Roychowdhury had utilized multiple mason jars filled with cloth and liquid to start fires. These fires were ignited on Sunday, May 8, 2022. Along with the arson attack, spray-painted words were found on the exterior of the building stating "If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either". DNA evidence collected from the crime scene enabled police officers to identify Roychowdhury as the primary suspect. In March 2023, officers successfully gathered his DNA after observing him discarding food in a public trash receptacle. This provided them with enough evidence for a match.
Roychowdhury now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and could potentially serve up to twenty years in prison. It seems that shortly after his DNA sample was acquired, Roychowdhury attempted international flight. He traveled from Madison to Portland, Maine and purchased a one-way ticket from Boston bound for Guatemala City. However, law enforcement authorities intercepted him at Boston Logan International Airport prior to his escape.
The extremist group known as Jane's Revenge took responsibility for the attack on the Madison office building post-incident. Following their declaration of involvement, they issued a statement calling for dissolving anti-abortion organizations and warned about possible future violent acts. This organization primarily targets crisis pregnancy centers, churches, and congressional offices with their operations. The formation of this group is traced back to when leaked information surfaced regarding the verdict of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in May 2022. The leak also disclosed the Supreme Court's decision to repeal the Roe v. Wade case, a landmark decision on abortion rights from 1973. As stated by Wikipedia, Jane's Revenge has since been linked to 24 instances of violence, with the latest reported on April 15th, 2023, in Ohio.
