Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police believe an overnight hearth in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to accommodate a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — possibly 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 underneath renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to provide different health care providers for girls, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for ladies 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 someone running from the building with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook publish. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police said. No accidents had been reported.

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

“Whether you’re towards abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said 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 website, and signs opposing abortion were seen Wednesday in a window of an condominium next door to the building.

Wyoming is one among 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 Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may happen quickly.

Police temporarily closed off the road where the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's windows were damaged, and smoke damage was seen around one shattered window.