A 24-year-old Shreveport woman and her 18-year-old boyfriend were charged Saturday with attempting to bomb an abortion clinic on Kings Highway nearly three weeks ago, authorities said.

Patricia Hughes and Jeremy Dunahoe, both of the 100 block of Lister Street, were arrested and booked into City Jail after investigators interviewed them in connection with the bombing.

Hughes was charged with manufacturing and possession of a delayed incendiary device. Dunahoe was charged as an accessory.

Hope Medical Group for Women wasn't damaged when someone tossed a Molotov cocktail at it about 10:45 p.m. Dec. 12.

The petroleum-based bomb apparently fell away from the building and burned, but the fire didn't spread to the clinic. The incident didn't disrupt services at the clinic in the 200 block of Kings Highway -- about 1½ miles from Hughes' and Dunahoe's residence...

... Hughes reportedly confessed to the bombing. A few hours later so did Dunahoe, allegedly.

During the interviews, Hughes and Dunahoe reportedly gave investigators specific details about the bombing that would only be known to the perpetrators, Fire Department spokesman Brian Crawford said.

"When asked why they did it, the couple didn't give a specific response," Crawford said.... "These incidents have a tendency to escalate in nature. If the perpetrators don't get caught, they get a little more brazen, they try to elevate the shock value," he said, explaining that the next time a bombing might take place during business hours.

Additional federal charges are pending.

It is evident, based on Crawford's comments, that officials recognize that this was very likely an act of domestic terrorism, aimed at interfering with the rights of people to receive and to provide abortion services. Crawford also notes what I know to be a pattern -- that attacks on abortion clinics tend to be serial crimes. This of course, figures, given the nature of terrorism. Given the zealous and political intent of the criminals, it stands to reason that the first crime would probably not be the last.

It will be interesting to see what further facts emerge about the alleged perpetrators -- and whether we see a break in the national silence.