Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to accommodate a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — possibly by someone seen operating away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the building beneath renovation to accommodate the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also deliberate to supply different well being care services for girls, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for ladies to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

A person who known as authorities before dawn noticed somebody running from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No accidents were reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, stated clinic organizers had been receiving harassing emails and telephone messages. The building had video cameras that had been functioning, and police got access to them, she stated.

“Whether or not you’re against abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated Burkhart, a former associate of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion supplier who was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas, church in 2009.

Protests have been held this spring by abortion opponents on the future clinic web site, and indicators opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an house subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that will immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can occur soon.

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows were broken, and smoke harm was visible round one shattered window.