Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

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

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — possibly by someone seen operating away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing below renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally planned to supply other health care providers for girls, had been set to open in June as only the second place in the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

A person who called authorities earlier than daybreak saw somebody working from the building with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No injuries were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re against abortion or help 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 website, and signs opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an condominium next door to the building.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that may immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can happen quickly.

Police temporarily closed off the road the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows had been damaged, and smoke damage was seen around one shattered window.