Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police believe an in a single day hearth in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated 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 broken in a hearth early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — possibly by somebody seen working away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gas can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which additionally deliberate to offer different well being care services for girls, had been set to open in June as solely 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.

A person who referred to as authorities before dawn saw someone working from the building with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb post. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No accidents 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 have been functioning, and police got entry to them, she mentioned.

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said 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 site, and indicators opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an house subsequent door to the constructing.

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

Police quickly closed off the street where the small building is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the building's windows have been damaged, and smoke harm was seen round one shattered window.