Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an overnight hearth in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to accommodate a brand new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen operating away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a fuel can and a bag.

The blaze broken the within of the building underneath renovation to accommodate the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally deliberate to provide different health care services for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than dawn saw someone running from the building with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook submit. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police stated. No accidents had been reported.

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

“Whether or not you’re against 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 website, and signs opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an condo next door to the building.

Wyoming is one in every of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger regulation that would immediately outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade resolution that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may happen quickly.

Police quickly closed off the street where the small building is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's home windows have been broken, and smoke injury was visible around one shattered window.