Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an overnight hearth in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to accommodate a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated 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 broken in a hearth early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — probably by somebody seen operating away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the constructing beneath renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally deliberate to provide different health care providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply 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 called authorities before dawn saw somebody working from the constructing with what gave the impression to be a gas can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police said. No injuries 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 were functioning, and police were given access to them, she stated.

“Whether you’re towards 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 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 website, and signs opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an condo next door to the building.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger law that would immediately 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 may happen quickly.

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's home windows have been broken, and smoke injury was seen around one shattered window.