Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

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

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

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

The blaze broken the within 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 additionally deliberate to provide different health care providers for women, had been set to open in June as only the second place within 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 known as authorities earlier than daybreak saw somebody running from the building with what appeared to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents have been reported.

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

“Whether you’re against abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated Burkhart, a former associate 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 website, and indicators opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an house next door to the building.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that may instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will happen soon.

Police temporarily closed off the road the place the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's windows were broken, and smoke injury was seen round one shattered window.