Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an in a single day fireplace in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to deal with a brand 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 subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — probably by someone seen operating away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the constructing below renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally deliberate to offer other health care providers for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within 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 daybreak saw somebody operating from the constructing with what gave the impression to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb publish. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police said. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to abortion or support 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 on the future clinic site, and signs opposing abortion were seen Wednesday in a window of an house next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law that might immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade resolution that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may happen quickly.

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