Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police consider an in a single day fireplace in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to accommodate 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 subsequent month in conservative Wyoming was broken in a fire early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — possibly by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what seemed to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the building underneath renovation to house 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 different health care companies for women, had been set to open in June as only the second place within 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 daybreak saw somebody operating from the building with what appeared to be a gas can and a black bag, police said in a Fb submit. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or generating a suspect description, police said. No injuries were reported.

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

“Whether you’re against abortion or assist abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 condo next door to the building.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger regulation that might instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will occur soon.

Police temporarily closed off the road where the small constructing is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows were damaged, and smoke harm was visible around one shattered window.