Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an overnight fire in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was intentionally 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 broken in a fire early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — presumably by somebody seen working away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the constructing under renovation to house 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 women, had been set to open in June as only 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 called authorities earlier than dawn saw somebody working from the constructing with what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb publish. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated 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 site, and signs opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an residence next door to the building.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger law that may instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade determination that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will occur soon.

Police briefly closed off the street the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the building's home windows had been damaged, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.