Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an overnight fire in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — presumably by someone seen running away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside 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 other well being 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 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 operating from the constructing with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb publish. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No accidents have 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 had been functioning, and police got access to them, she mentioned.

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

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off legislation that may immediately 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 will happen soon.

Police temporarily closed off the road where the small constructing is located as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows had been damaged, and smoke damage was visible round one shattered window.