Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police believe an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to accommodate a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — probably by somebody seen working away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a bag.

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

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

An individual who known as authorities before daybreak saw somebody operating from the building with what appeared to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said Burkhart, a former associate of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider 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 website, and indicators opposing abortion were seen Wednesday in a window of an house subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off regulation that might instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade determination that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may occur soon.

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