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Attacker Sets Fire at Chinese Consulate in San Francisco Attacker Sets Fire at Chinese Consulate in San Francisco
(about 5 hours later)
The main entrance to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco was set afire Wednesday night, drawing a strong protest from Chinese officials who condemned the “despicable attack.” The F.B.I. is leading an investigation into a fire that was set Wednesday night at the main entrance of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, the authorities said Thursday. No injuries were reported.
The consulate said that an unidentified attacker had poured two buckets of gasoline onto the front door of the consulate and set it on fire, causing severe damage. No one was injured. The consulate denounced the attack as “despicable” and demanded that the United States move quickly to find those responsible.
“The arson attack is a violent crime targeted at the Chinese consular institution in the United States, causing severe damage to the consulate facilities and posing a threat to the safety of the consulate staff and the residents living nearby,” said a statement by the consulate. “We urge the U.S. side to take all necessary measures to provide adequate protection for Chinese consular personnel and properties, and bring the culprit(s) to justice as soon as possible.” In a statement released late Wednesday, the consulate said that someone had emerged from a minivan in front of the building at about 9:25 p.m. and “poured two buckets of gasoline onto the front door of the consulate, and then set it on fire.”
The attack comes as tensions have risen between the United States and China over territorial disputes in the waters off China’s coast. There were no claims of responsibility for the attack, and the police had no suspects Thursday morning. The fire, according to the statement, caused “severe damage.” Photographs of the exterior of the consulate show that the entranceway to the building has been charred.
Pictures of the flames were widely circulated on Chinese social media and news sites on Thursday, drawing expressions of outrage from commenters assailing the attack. “We strongly condemn this despicable act and have already made representations with the U.S. side on the attack,” the consular statement read. It urged the United States to do everything necessary to protect the consulate and its personnel.
There have been no claims of responsibility for the attack, which the consulate said had threatened the safety of its staff and residents of the neighborhood.
The F.B.I. and the State Department had no immediate comment Thursday morning.
Pictures of the flames were widely circulated on Chinese social media and news sites Thursday, drawing expressions of outrage from commenters assailing the attack.
Protests outside Chinese consulates in the United States are relatively common. In 2009, demonstrators threw eggs at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles after more than 180 people were killed in riots in China’s northwest city of Urumqi.

Kitty Bennett contributed research.