Police suspect arson in fire at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police consider an in a single day fire in Wyoming that broken a building being renovated to accommodate a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min learn

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — presumably by somebody seen running away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which additionally planned to supply different well being care providers for ladies, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in the state to supply abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for women to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

A person who called authorities earlier than daybreak noticed someone running from the constructing with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police stated in a Facebook submit. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of identifying the suspect or producing a suspect description, police stated. No accidents were reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, stated 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 mentioned.

“Whether you’re against abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” mentioned 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 website, and indicators opposing abortion have been seen Wednesday in a window of an apartment next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is considered one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off regulation that might immediately 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 may happen soon.

Police temporarily closed off the road where the small building is positioned as officers investigated. A number of of the building's home windows had been broken, and smoke injury was seen round one shattered window.