Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police consider an in a single day hearth 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 broken in a fire early Wednesday that police consider 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 broken the inside of the constructing beneath 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 women, 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 called authorities earlier than daybreak noticed someone working from the building with what appeared to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook put up. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying 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 phone messages. The constructing had video cameras that have been functioning, and police were given entry to them, she said.

“Whether you’re in opposition to abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 have been seen Wednesday in a window of an condo next door to the building.

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law that may immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade resolution that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may happen quickly.

Police briefly closed off the road where the small building is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's windows had been broken, and smoke damage was visible around one shattered window.