Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an in a single day fireplace in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 broken in a hearth early Wednesday that police imagine was intentionally set — presumably by somebody seen operating away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which additionally planned to supply different well being care services for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in 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.

A person who known as authorities earlier than dawn noticed someone operating from the constructing with what appeared to be a fuel can and a black bag, police said in a Fb put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing 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 phone messages. The building had video cameras that were functioning, and police got access to them, she mentioned.

“Whether or not you’re against abortion or support 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 on the future clinic web site, and signs opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an apartment next door to the constructing.

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

Police temporarily closed off the street where the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows have been broken, and smoke damage was visible round one shattered window.