Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an overnight fire in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 broken in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — probably by someone seen running away from the building carrying what appeared to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the constructing beneath 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 also planned to supply different health care services for ladies, had been set to open in June as only the second place in the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s current 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 daybreak noticed somebody working from the building with what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb post. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No injuries have been reported.

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

“Whether you’re towards abortion or assist 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 on the future clinic web site, and indicators opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an condo subsequent door to the building.

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off legislation that will instantly 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 can occur soon.

Police quickly closed off the road where the small constructing is located as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows have been broken, and smoke harm was visible around one shattered window.