Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police imagine an overnight fire in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to house a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

May 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fireplace early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the within of the building underneath 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 additionally planned to provide other health care services for women, had been set to open in June as solely 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.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than daybreak saw someone operating from the constructing with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of identifying the suspect or generating a suspect description, police mentioned. No accidents have been reported.

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

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

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

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows were broken, and smoke damage was seen round one shattered window.