Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police consider an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to deal with a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — probably by somebody seen working away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze broken the within of the building under renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally deliberate to supply different health care companies for women, had been set to open in June as only the second place within the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who known as authorities before dawn noticed somebody working from the constructing with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Facebook publish. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No accidents have been reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, mentioned 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 you’re in opposition to abortion or assist 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 web site, and signs opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an condominium next door to the building.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off regulation that may immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may occur soon.

Police briefly closed off the road the place the small building is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's windows had been broken, and smoke harm was seen around one shattered window.