Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an in a single day hearth in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to house a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fireplace early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — probably by someone seen operating away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing underneath 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 providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as only the second place within the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for ladies to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who called authorities earlier than daybreak noticed someone running from the building with what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook publish. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No injuries were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said Burkhart, a former associate 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 website, and indicators opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an house next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger law that may instantly 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 will happen quickly.

Police quickly closed off the road the place the small building is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the building's home windows had been broken, and smoke injury was visible round one shattered window.