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Police officers in front of the clinic that caught fire (May 25): Who started the fire?
Photo: Mead Gruver/AP
A masked woman allegedly set fire to a proposed abortion clinic in Wyoming, USA.
The unsub can be seen in video released by police and taken at Wellspring Health Access Clinic just before it caught fire on May 25.
The 30-second video shows a person in a hoodie and mask apparently carrying a canister.
The woman probably acted alone, police said.
Authorities have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the woman's arrest.
A witness called the fire brigade on the day of the fire.
The person reported hearing glass breaking.
She then saw a person exit the building with a jerry can and a black bag, police said.
When the fire department arrived, smoke was coming from a corner of the building.
Investigators then found fire accelerants in several areas of the building, police said.
The clinic was originally scheduled to open in mid-June.
The fire damaged a building that is currently being renovated, but so badly that the clinic could only open six months later, those responsible said.
The AP news agency reports that there is only one other abortion clinic in Wyoming, which is located in the town of Jackson, about 450 kilometers from Casper.
"Despite these setbacks, we will not be deterred in our mission," said clinic founder Julie Burkhart, according to the statement.
One wants to enable the people in Casper to have abortions.
Anti-abortion protesters protested in front of the building
Wyoming is considered to be rather conservative.
With a population of around 60,000, Casper is the second largest city in the US state.
In the spring, opponents of abortion protested at the site of the future clinic.
Anti-abortion signs are said to have been put up in the vicinity of the clinic.
Since the opening of the clinic is being postponed, abortions may not take place there at all.
Because in the US, a decision by the Supreme Court on the right to abortion is expected.
This is based on the fundamental decision »Roe v.
Wade« back.
Wyoming is among 13 states that would ban all or most abortion if the court overturned the 1973 ruling.
A draft ruling leaked in May shows the Supreme Court apparently wants to overturn abortion rights.
ptz/AP