Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an overnight fire in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to deal with 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 next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police consider was deliberately set — probably by someone 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 building under renovation to deal with 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 health care companies for girls, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply 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 called authorities earlier than dawn noticed somebody operating from the building with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police said in a Fb submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents were reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, stated clinic organizers had been receiving harassing emails and phone messages. The constructing had video cameras that were functioning, and police got entry to them, she stated.

“Whether or not you’re against abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 site, and indicators opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an condo next door to the building.

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

Police temporarily closed off the street the place the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's windows had been damaged, and smoke injury was visible round one shattered window.