Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an in a single day fireplace in Wyoming that broken a constructing being renovated to accommodate a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a hearth early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen running away from the building carrying what gave the impression to be a gas can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which additionally planned to offer different health care companies 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 women to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

A person who referred to as authorities earlier than dawn saw someone working from the building with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb post. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police said. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re against 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 at the future clinic web site, and indicators opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an residence next door to the building.

Wyoming is one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that will immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade determination that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will occur quickly.

Police temporarily closed off the road the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows had been damaged, and smoke damage was seen round one shattered window.