Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police consider an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to deal with a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

May 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fire early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — probably by someone seen operating away from the building carrying what seemed to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the building under 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 also planned to offer other health care companies for ladies, had been set to open in June as only the second place in 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 before daybreak saw somebody operating from the building with what gave the impression to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb submit. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police stated. No accidents had been reported.

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

“Whether you’re in opposition to abortion or assist 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 on the future clinic site, and indicators opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an condo next door to the constructing.

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

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