Woman arrested after alleged threats against abortion protesters

A woman on her way into a Duluth building that houses a clinic where abortions are performed threatened two abortion picketers with a knife, police said.

The 25-year-old woman from Superior, Wis., was arrested following the incident Tuesday outside the Building for Women, which houses the clinic along with several other organizations.

Police said the suspect had a verbal exchange with the two women who were picketing. The suspect then brandished the knife and held it near the neck of one of the women. When the other picketer came to that woman's aid, the suspect threatened her with the knife, police said.

The woman then entered the building. Police later found her inside the building and said they found a knife in her purse. She was arrested and taken to the St. Louis County jail.

Police spokesman Brad Wick said he expects the woman will be formally charged with second-degree assault later Wednesday.

Wick said there have been no incidents involving abortion rights protesters outside the building in several years.

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