Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

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

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Might 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 consider was deliberately set — presumably by someone seen working away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing beneath renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to supply other well being care companies for girls, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within 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.

An individual who called authorities before daybreak noticed somebody working from the building with what gave the impression to be a gas can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Facebook put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. 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 were given entry to them, she mentioned.

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to 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 on the future clinic website, and indicators opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an condo subsequent door to the building.

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

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is located as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows had been broken, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.