Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police imagine an overnight fire in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to accommodate a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Might 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — possibly by someone seen operating away from the building carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

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

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

An individual who known as authorities before daybreak saw somebody running from the building with what gave the impression to be a gas can and a black bag, police said in a Fb post. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 at the future clinic site, and indicators opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an residence next door to the building.

Wyoming is one in every of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law that may instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade resolution that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can happen soon.

Police temporarily closed off the road where the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's home windows were broken, and smoke harm was visible around one shattered window.