Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to house a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fire early Wednesday that police consider was deliberately set — presumably by somebody seen running away from the building carrying what seemed to be a gas can and a bag.

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

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

A person who called authorities earlier than dawn saw someone operating from the building with what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb publish. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents have been reported.

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

“Whether you’re towards abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned Burkhart, a former affiliate 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 on the future clinic website, and signs opposing abortion had been visible Wednesday in a window of an house next door to the building.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off legislation that might instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may happen quickly.

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