Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police believe an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to accommodate 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen operating away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the building under renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to supply other health care services for ladies, had been set to open in June as only the second place in 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 known as authorities before daybreak saw someone running from the constructing with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police stated. No accidents had been 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 got entry to them, she stated.

“Whether or not you’re towards 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 visible Wednesday in a window of an condominium subsequent door to the building.

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

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the building's windows have been damaged, and smoke harm was visible round one shattered window.