Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police imagine an in a single day hearth in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to accommodate a 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 next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police imagine was intentionally set — probably by someone seen working away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze broken the within of the constructing underneath 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 other health care providers for girls, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within 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.

A person who known as authorities earlier than dawn noticed somebody running from the building with what gave the impression to be a gas can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No accidents had been reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said 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 have been seen Wednesday in a window of an house subsequent door to the constructing.

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

Police quickly closed off the road where the small building is located as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows had been broken, and smoke harm was seen around one shattered window.