Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic site

Police imagine an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that broken a constructing 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 damaged in a fireplace early Wednesday that police consider was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen working away from the constructing carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the constructing under renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest city in a state the place opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which also deliberate to provide other health care providers for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within 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.

An individual who known as authorities before daybreak saw somebody operating from the building with what seemed to be a gasoline can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Facebook put up. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the world in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police stated. No accidents were reported.

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

“Whether you’re towards abortion or help 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 signs opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an apartment next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one in every of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law that will instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court docket. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that can occur soon.

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