Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police believe an overnight hearth in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to accommodate 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police believe was intentionally set — presumably by someone seen operating away from the building carrying what seemed to be a fuel can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside 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 well being care providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as only 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.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than daybreak saw somebody operating from the building with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police said in a Facebook put up. Investigators were reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No injuries were reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, said 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 in opposition to abortion or help abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated Burkhart, a former affiliate 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 visible Wednesday in a window of an condo subsequent door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one in every of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation 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 can happen quickly.

Police temporarily closed off the road where the small constructing is located as officers investigated. Several of the building's windows had been broken, and smoke harm was seen round one shattered window.