Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to house a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 fire early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — presumably by somebody seen operating away from the building carrying what appeared to be a fuel can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which additionally deliberate to supply other health care providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who referred to as authorities before daybreak saw someone operating from the building with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing 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 building had video cameras that were functioning, and police got access to them, she stated.

“Whether 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 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 had been visible Wednesday in a window of an apartment next door to the constructing.

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

Police temporarily closed off the road the place the small building is located as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows had been damaged, and smoke harm was seen around one shattered window.