Arson attack on Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, no injuries

USPA News - The front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco was damaged late on Wednesday when an unidentified person set fire to its front entrance, Chinese officials said on Thursday, urging U.S. authorities to take measures to protect the safety of its diplomats and premises. The incident happened at approximately 9:25 p.m. local time on Wednesday when an unidentified male parked a minivan near China`s Consulate-General in San Francisco and poured two buckets of gasoline onto the front door of the building.

He then set it on fire, causing serious damage. "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," a consulate spokesperson said. "We strongly condemn this despicable act and have already made representations with the U.S. side on the attack." The attack, in which no one was injured, was being investigated by multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the U.S. State Department, the San Francisco Police Department, and the San Francisco Fire Department. But no arrests had been made as of Thursday. In the Chinese capital of Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang also condemned Wednesday`s attack. "The Chinese Foreign Ministry and relevant diplomatic missions in the U.S. have lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side, requiring it to solve the case as soon as possible [and] bring the perpetrators to justice," he said. Both spokespersons urged U.S. authorities to take "all necessary measures" to provide adequate protection for Chinese consular personnel and properties, and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.