Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an in a single day fire in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to deal with 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 subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — probably by someone seen working away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gas can and a bag.

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

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

An individual who referred to as authorities before dawn noticed someone running from the building with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook submit. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether you’re in opposition to abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated 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 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 trigger regulation that might 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 can happen quickly.

Police briefly closed off the road the place the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows were broken, and smoke injury was seen round one shattered window.