Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police believe an overnight hearth in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to accommodate a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen running away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the building below renovation to accommodate the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to provide different health care providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as only 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 referred to as authorities before daybreak noticed somebody running from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying 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 telephone messages. The building had video cameras that were functioning, and police were given access to them, she mentioned.

“Whether you’re against abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 site, and indicators opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an residence subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off legislation that will 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 occur soon.

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