Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police imagine an overnight fireplace 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 subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — presumably by someone seen running away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing under 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 provide different well being care services 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 women to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than daybreak saw someone operating from the building with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook 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 injuries 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 access to them, she said.

“Whether you’re towards 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 web site, and signs opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an house next door to the building.

Wyoming is one among 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger regulation that will immediately 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 occur quickly.

Police temporarily closed off the road the place the small building is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows have been damaged, and smoke harm was seen round one shattered window.