Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an overnight fire in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to deal with a 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 intentionally set — presumably by someone seen running away from the constructing carrying what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a bag.

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

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

A person who called authorities before daybreak noticed someone working from the constructing with what appeared to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook put up. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No injuries had been reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to 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 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 web site, and signs opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an apartment subsequent door to the building.

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

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is located as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows have been damaged, and smoke damage was visible around one shattered window.