Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an in a single day fire in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Could 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 fire early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — presumably by someone seen operating away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a fuel 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 additionally planned to provide other well being care services for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in 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.

A person who known as authorities before dawn noticed somebody operating from the constructing with what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb post. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating 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 telephone messages. The building had video cameras that have been functioning, and police were given access to them, she stated.

“Whether you’re against abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated 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 house subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is certainly one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law that might immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade resolution that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may happen soon.

Police briefly closed off the road the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows were broken, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.