Police suspect arson in fireplace at Wyoming abortion clinic website

Police believe an overnight fireplace in Wyoming that damaged a building being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was intentionally set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Might 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 fireplace early Wednesday that police consider was intentionally set — possibly by somebody seen working away from the building carrying what seemed to be a fuel can and a bag.

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

The clinic, which also deliberate to offer other health care providers for girls, had been set to open in June as solely the second place within the state to supply 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 known as authorities earlier than dawn noticed somebody operating from the building with what seemed to be a gas can and a black bag, police mentioned in a Fb publish. Investigators had been reviewing video footage from the realm in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No injuries 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 had been functioning, and police were given access to them, she said.

“Whether you’re against abortion or support 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 at the future clinic web site, and indicators opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an house subsequent door to the building.

Wyoming is certainly one of 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger 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 can occur quickly.

Police briefly closed off the road where the small building is positioned as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows were damaged, and smoke damage was seen round one shattered window.