Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an overnight fire in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

May 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fire early Wednesday that police consider was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen working away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a bag.

The blaze broken the within of the building underneath renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to supply other well being care services for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

A person who called authorities earlier than dawn saw somebody operating from the building with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb put up. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No injuries 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 were given access to them, she stated.

“Whether you’re in opposition to 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 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 website, and signs opposing abortion have been visible Wednesday in a window of an condominium subsequent door to the building.

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger regulation that may instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will occur quickly.

Police quickly closed off the road where the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows had been damaged, and smoke damage was seen round one shattered window.