1/2/14, "Arson fire at Chinese consulate in San Francisco a 'despicable act'," CNN, Shimon Prokupecz and Chelsea J. Carter
There is no indication the fire was an act of terrorism, FBI spokesman Peter Lee said.
According to a statement released by the consulate,
footage from surveillance cameras shows the fire began Wednesday night
after a person emerged from a parked mini-van, poured two buckets of
gasoline on the front door of the consulate and ignited it.
"We strongly condemn this
despicable attack," Wang Chuan, the consulate spokesman, told reporters
during a news briefing outside the consulate. "We urge the U.S. side to
take all necessary measures to provide adequate protection for Chinese
consular personnel and properties."
Chuan characterized the
fire as a "violent crime" that not only targeted the consulate but also
its employees and residents living nearby.
There were no injuries reported in the fire, though a small number of employees were in the building when it began, Chuan told CNN affiliate KGO.
Surveillance video
obtained exclusively by CNN affiliate KTVU appears to show a person
standing in front of the consulate. Then seconds later on the grainy
video, there is a ball of fire that erupts in front of the building, and
the person can be seen walking to vehicle parked only a few feet away.
The vehicle then drives off.
There have been no claims
of responsibility for the attack, and the United States is not aware of
a specific threat made against the consulate, State Department
spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
"We take this incident
very seriously," Harf said, adding that the United States is "deeply
concerned" about the reported attack." image above from CNN
.
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