Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police imagine an overnight hearth in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to house a brand 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 next month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fireplace early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a fuel can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which also deliberate to provide other well being care services for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within 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 known as authorities before dawn saw someone operating from the building with what appeared to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No injuries have been reported.

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

“Whether you’re in opposition to abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said 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 website, and signs opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an residence subsequent door to the building.

Wyoming is considered 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 happen soon.

Police quickly closed off the road where the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows were broken, and smoke harm was seen round one shattered window.