<p>President Barack Obama, who just two weeks ago sought an end to the “demonisation” of opponents in the bitter culture war over abortion rights, said he was outraged by Sunday’s killing.<br />The gunman killed George Tiller in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church. Wichita officials said the 51-year-old man suspected of shooting Tiller was arrested some three hours later.<br />Long a lightning rod for anti-abortion activists, Tiller, 67, had already been picketed, bombed and shot in both arms.<br />About 500 people filled a downtown Wichita square during a candlelight vigil for the doctor.<br />“We’ve been terrified for him for years,” said Jean Spurney of Belleville, Kansas, who drove over two hours to attend the vigil.<br />Many at the vigil blamed radical anti-abortion groups for fostering an atmosphere of hate.<br />“I’m upset at the anti-abortion people who have allowed the atmosphere to get to this point where someone feels it’s alright to walk into a church and shoot an unarmed man,” said Diane Wahto, who volunteered at Tiller’s clinic.<br />Several anti-abortion groups released statements condemning the killing.<br />Obama, in a statement released by the White House, said he was “shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr George Tiller.”</p>
<p>President Barack Obama, who just two weeks ago sought an end to the “demonisation” of opponents in the bitter culture war over abortion rights, said he was outraged by Sunday’s killing.<br />The gunman killed George Tiller in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church. Wichita officials said the 51-year-old man suspected of shooting Tiller was arrested some three hours later.<br />Long a lightning rod for anti-abortion activists, Tiller, 67, had already been picketed, bombed and shot in both arms.<br />About 500 people filled a downtown Wichita square during a candlelight vigil for the doctor.<br />“We’ve been terrified for him for years,” said Jean Spurney of Belleville, Kansas, who drove over two hours to attend the vigil.<br />Many at the vigil blamed radical anti-abortion groups for fostering an atmosphere of hate.<br />“I’m upset at the anti-abortion people who have allowed the atmosphere to get to this point where someone feels it’s alright to walk into a church and shoot an unarmed man,” said Diane Wahto, who volunteered at Tiller’s clinic.<br />Several anti-abortion groups released statements condemning the killing.<br />Obama, in a statement released by the White House, said he was “shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr George Tiller.”</p>