5 fetuses were discovered in a DC residence purportedly owned by an anti-abortion activist, according to police.

Police claim they discovered five fetuses in a residence in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, only days after several anti-abortion activists were indicted on charges of impeding access to a reproductive health clinic in 2020, including a woman believed to live in the home where the fetuses were discovered.

The Metro Police Department stated in a statement that officers were dispatched to the property in the Capitol Hill area "to investigate a tip regarding suspected bio-hazard items." Police stated they discovered five fetuses when they entered the house.

The investigation into the fetuses is still underway, according to DC Police. No arrests have been made in connection with the fetuses.

The property was reportedly occupied by Lauren Handy, an anti-abortion activist, according to CNN affiliate WUSA. Handy's presence in the house has not been independently verified by CNN.

Police were seen removing evidence in red biohazard bags and coolers, according to the WUSA crew. Handy refused to talk to WUSA on camera but said the raid will come "sooner or later," according to WUSA. "People would flip out when they heard," she told WUSA of the contents of the coolers that were removed from the property.

The fetuses were collected by the DC medical examiner's office, according to police.
The fetuses were aborted by DC law, according to DC Police Executive Assistant Chief Ashan Benedict.

Indicted for allegedly obstructing the operation of an abortion facility.
A federal grand jury indicted Handy and eight other anti-abortion activists last week for allegedly impeding access to a DC clinic that provides abortion services in 2020.

According to the indictment, Handy and the other defendants "conspired" to impede the clinic on October 22, 2020, and to threaten or harass clinic patients and workers.

According to the indictment, the defendants traveled to DC from different states and gained entry to the clinic through deception and force. "Ropes and shackles were among the instruments taken by the conspirators to barricade themselves inside the Clinic."

According to court filings, Handy called the clinic days before the event and "falsely represented herself as a female named 'Hazel Jenkins' who required reproductive health services, and booked an appointment for 9:00 a.m." on October 22.

While outside the facility, one of the members of the gang, Jonathan Darnel, launched a Facebook event named "No one dies today," according to the indictment.

According to the indictment, when the clinic first opened, the defendants "forcefully pushed through the Clinic door into the Clinic's waiting area." A nurse allegedly "stumbled and sprain[ed] her ankle" as a result of the forcible invasion.

The defendants entered the clinic and began barricading clinic doors and treatment areas, according to the indictment.

The "conspirators" prevented a patient from entering the Clinic's treatment area when she arrived. According to the indictment, Handy stood at the clinic's main entrance and "blocked anyone attempting to enter the waiting area."

"We have people intervening physically with their bodies to prevent ladies from entering the clinic to murder their children," Darnel began live-streaming on Facebook, according to prosecutors.

Each of the accused faces one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of breaching the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

"The defendants each face up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $350,000 if convicted of the counts," the Justice Department stated in a news statement on Wednesday.

Handy is listed as a member of the leadership team of the anti-abortion group "Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising" (PAAU) on its website.
"This morning, PAAU Director of Activism Lauren Handy was arrested and is presently being detained by the FBI in connection with a two-year-old rescue in Washington D.C.," PAAU tweeted on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the organization tweeted once more "Inside a press conference in Washington, DC, we will address the allegations regarding the five dead children discovered at Lauren Handy's apartment. Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. EST, tune in."

Attorneys for Handy and Darnel has been contacted by CNN. There was no counsel identified for the other six indicted individuals.