Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police believe an in a single day fire in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

May 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen operating away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the constructing underneath renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally planned to provide other health care providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s present 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 running from the constructing with what appeared to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb post. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether you’re towards abortion or support 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 at the future clinic web site, and signs opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an condominium subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off legislation that would 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 will occur soon.

Police quickly closed off the street where the small building is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the building's home windows had been broken, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.