Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police imagine an in a single day fire in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to house a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

May 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 hearth early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze broken the within of the constructing beneath 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 provide different well being care services for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than daybreak noticed somebody operating from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Facebook submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police stated. 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 had been functioning, and police got entry to them, she stated.

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said Burkhart, a former affiliate 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 house next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one among 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off regulation 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 will occur soon.

Police temporarily closed off the street the place the small constructing is located as officers investigated. A number of of the building's windows have been broken, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.