As the trial of the alleged murderer of abortion doctor George Tiller continues in Kansas, abortion rights advocates are calling on the Justice Department to further investigate a network of anti-abortion activists who they say are tied to the case, reports The Kansas City Star.

“The Department of Justice needs to vigorously pursue not only a further investigation of Scott Roeder but of his connections to the extremist network that may have been involved in the furthering of this murder,” said Kathy Spillar, executive vice president of the Feminist Majority Foundation.

“We’re closely monitoring the state prosecution,” Assistant Attorney General for civil rights Thomas Perez told Main Justice on Friday. “We’ve been out in that area since shortly after the incident and we will continue to carefully monitor the case.”

Shortly after Tiller was killed in his church on May 31, the Justice Department announced an investigation into whether others were involved in the shooting. That investigation is continuing, but some abortion rights advocates want more assurances that the federal government is serious in that undertaking.

While Roeder has told reporters and said in a court filing that he killed Tiller, he has pled not guilty, arguing that it was necessary to save unborn babies.

Several of those in the audience at the trial, which was in its third day of testimony on Tuesday, have advocated violence against abortion doctors, reports The Star:

Among those attending have been Michael Bray, of Ohio, who spent four years in prison in the 1980s for a series of abortion clinic arsons and bombings; Dave Leach, of Des Moines, who once published the Army of God manual, a how-to book on abortion clinic violence; Jennifer McCoy of Wichita, who spent time in prison for two abortion clinic arsons in Virginia; Regina Dinwiddie of Kansas City, who calls Roeder a hero; and Joshua Graff, who spent three years in prison for a 1993 clinic arson in the Houston area.

“Many of this extremist network with whom Scott Roeder clearly has been involved are here in the courtroom. We can only hope that the network will be dismantled, and until it’s dismantled, we’re waiting for the next murder.”

The Justice Department Civil Rights Division is investigating the murder of late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, the Justice Department announced today.

The division will work with state and local authorities in assessing whether the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which protects reproductive health care providers, was violated in the shooting death of Tiller at a Kansas church Sunday. Local authorities have charged Scott Roeder with the murder.

“The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to determine the full involvement of any and all actors in this horrible crime, and to ensure that anyone who played a role in the offense is prosecuted to the full extent of federal law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Loretta King in a statement. “We will conduct a thorough investigation that will complement and build upon the fine work of the Sedgwick County District Attorney and other state and local law enforcement agencies.”

We previously reported that Attorney General Eric Holder ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to protect abortion facilities.

The U.S. Marshals Service is protecting a late-term abortion doctor and a pro-choice group after the murder of late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, The Associated Press reported this afternoon.

The U.S. Marshals have increased security for Boulder, Colo. doctor Warren Hern, who gives late-term abortions, local police told The AP. They are also protecting Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, The AP said.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement yesterday that he would order the U.S. Marshals to “to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation.”

“As a precautionary measure, we will also take appropriate steps to help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring,” he said.

Here is the text of Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement on the murder Sunday of Wichita, Kan., abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, who for nearly two decades has been a target of militant anti-abortion protesters:

STATEMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON MURDER OF DOCTOR GEORGE TILLER

        “The murder of Doctor George Tiller is an abhorrent act of violence, and his family is in our thoughts and prayers at this tragic moment.  Federal law enforcement is coordinating with local law enforcement officials in Kansas on the investigation of this crime, and I have directed the United States Marshals Service to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation.  The Department of Justice will work to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice.  As a precautionary measure, we will also take appropriate steps to help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring.”