Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an in a single day hearth in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to house a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a hearth early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — probably by someone seen operating away from the building carrying what seemed to be a fuel can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the building under renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

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

An individual who known as authorities before dawn saw someone working from the constructing with what appeared to be a gas can and a black bag, police said in a Fb put up. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No injuries had been reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, mentioned clinic organizers had been receiving harassing emails and phone messages. The building had video cameras that have been functioning, and police got access 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 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 condominium subsequent door to the building.

Wyoming is certainly one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that might immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may occur quickly.

Police quickly closed off the road the place the small building is situated as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows were damaged, and smoke damage was seen round one shattered window.