Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police imagine an overnight hearth in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to deal with a brand new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Related Press

Might 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a fire early Wednesday that police imagine was deliberately set — presumably by someone seen running away from the building carrying what seemed to be a gas can and a bag.

The blaze broken the inside of the building 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 additionally planned to supply different health care companies for girls, had been set to open in June as only the second place in the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s current lone location for ladies to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who referred to as authorities earlier than daybreak noticed somebody running from the building with what gave the impression to be a fuel can and a black bag, police said 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 injuries had been reported.

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

“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 supplier 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 web site, and signs opposing abortion were visible Wednesday in a window of an condo next door to the constructing.

Wyoming is one in every of 13 U.S. states with a so-called set off law 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 may occur soon.

Police quickly closed off the street the place the small constructing is situated as officers investigated. A number of of the constructing's home windows were damaged, and smoke harm was seen round one shattered window.