Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police imagine an overnight hearth in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to house a 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 next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — probably by someone seen working away from the building carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the constructing underneath renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

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

A person who called authorities before dawn saw somebody running from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb publish. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents had been 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 said.

“Whether you’re in opposition to abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 indicators opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an house subsequent door to the building.

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

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