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 deal with a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a hearth early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — possibly by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which also deliberate to supply other well being care companies for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely 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.

An individual who called authorities earlier than dawn noticed someone running from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents 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 had been functioning, and police were given access to them, she stated.

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated 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 web site, and indicators opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an residence subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that might instantly 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 can occur quickly.

Police briefly closed off the street the place the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows were broken, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.