Arson attack damages Chinese consulate in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO—Federal authorities are investigating an attack by an arsonist, or arsonists, who poured gasoline on the front entrance of the Chinese consulate and set it on fire on Wednesday night, Jan. 1.

FBI spokesman Peter Lee said the blaze was caused by an unspecified “incendiary device.” The agency is investigating the crime with the help of the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and the San Francisco police and fire departments.

An unidentified person in a minivan at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday stopped at the consulate on 1450 Laguna St., in the Western Addition district and started the fire. A surveillance camera recorded the arson.

Chinese consulate spokesman Wang Chuan condemned the attack and asked assurance from the US authorities that “the culprits would be brought to justice” and Chinese personnel would be protected.

No one was hurt as the consulate was closed although some personnel were working inside at the time of the attack. Firefighters arrived quickly to extinguish the fire.

The consulate was also a target of arson in 2008 just before the summer Olympics in Beijing.