Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police imagine an in a single day fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to house a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 fire early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — probably by someone seen working away from the building carrying what appeared to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing under renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

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

An individual who called authorities earlier than dawn noticed somebody running from the constructing with what appeared to be a gas can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents were reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, stated clinic organizers had been receiving harassing emails and phone messages. The constructing had video cameras that have been functioning, and police were given entry to them, she mentioned.

“Whether you’re towards abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 at the future clinic site, and indicators opposing abortion had been visible Wednesday in a window of an residence next door to the building.

Wyoming is one among 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law that may immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can happen soon.

Police temporarily closed off the street where the small building is located as officers investigated. A number of of the building's windows had been broken, and smoke harm was visible round one shattered window.