Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police believe an overnight fire in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was deliberately 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 damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — probably by somebody seen working away from the building carrying what seemed to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the building below renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also planned to provide different health care providers for women, had been set to open in June as only the second place within the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for ladies to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than dawn saw somebody operating from the building with what appeared to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No accidents have been reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re against abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated Burkhart, a former associate 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 on the future clinic web site, and signs opposing abortion had been 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 legislation that may instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can happen soon.

Police briefly closed off the road the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows have been damaged, and smoke damage was visible round one shattered window.