Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

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

By

MEAD GRUVER Related 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 hearth early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — probably by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside 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 provide different health care companies for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who known as authorities earlier than dawn noticed somebody operating from the building with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb publish. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing 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 constructing had video cameras that have been functioning, and police were given entry to them, she said.

“Whether 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 signs opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an condominium subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one in every of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger regulation that may immediately 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 soon.

Police quickly closed off the road the place the small building is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's windows had been damaged, and smoke damage was visible round one shattered window.