Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an overnight fire in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — possibly by someone seen working away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

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

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

A person who referred to as authorities before daybreak noticed somebody running from the constructing with what appeared to be a fuel can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police said. No injuries had been reported.

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

“Whether you’re in opposition to abortion or help 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 had been seen Wednesday in a window of an apartment subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger law that will immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may occur quickly.

Police briefly closed off the road the place the small constructing is located as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's home windows were broken, and smoke harm was visible round one shattered window.