Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police consider an in a single day fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police consider was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen working away from the constructing 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 the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also deliberate to offer other well being care companies for women, had been set to open in June as solely 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.

A person who known as authorities earlier than dawn noticed somebody running from the building with what appeared to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb publish. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents have been reported.

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

“Whether you’re against abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said Burkhart, a former associate 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 website, and indicators opposing abortion were seen Wednesday in a window of an apartment next door to the building.

Wyoming is one among 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that will 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 will occur soon.

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