Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police believe an overnight fire in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

May 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — possibly by someone seen running away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the constructing under renovation to deal with the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally planned to offer different health care companies for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for women 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 appeared to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents 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 had been functioning, and police got entry to them, she mentioned.

“Whether or not you’re towards abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” said 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 had been seen Wednesday in a window of an condominium subsequent door to the building.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off legislation that would instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can occur quickly.

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