Mar 21, 2008 12:31 am US/Pacific
Flaming Object Thrown At SF Chinese Consulate
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP / BCN) ―
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A burn mark appears on a metal roll-up door at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.
CBS
Arson investigators were reviewing surveillance video Thursday to try to identify the vandals who threw a flaming object - possibly a Molotov cocktail - that started a small early morning fire at San Francisco's Chinese consulate, located at 1450 Laguna Street.
Someone threw flammable liquid on a metal garage door at the back entrance to the consulate offices and set the door ablaze, federal agents said. The door was charred in the 4 a.m. incident. No one was injured and no arrests had been made.
A witness called 911 saying he "heard a bang and saw some flames" after a burning device was hurled at the building.
San Francisco police Sgt. Steve Mannina said two people were seen running from the building eastbound down Geary Boulevard around the time of the fire. Investigators were looking into whether up to four people were involved in setting the fire, with one or two serving as lookouts, Mannina said.
Police had established no motive for the attack, and no arrests were made.
Security cameras are posted on the side of the building. Police tape cordoned off the area around the part of the building where the incident took place, but the building was open for business Thursday.
Police were beefing up security at the consulate, as well as patrols in the area, Mannina said.
A consulate spokesperson condemned the incident as a "terrorist act" that "seriously threatened the safety of the Consulate and the staff, affected our normal working order and caused inconvenience to American citizens who come to apply for visas."
The spokesperson said that U.S. officials had formally apologized to the consulate for the incident.
While damage from the attack was described as minimal, it did prompt the Federal Bureau of Investigation to become involved in the probe despite officials' reported unwillingness to connect the fire to any recent political unrest.
The Chinese government has been the target of recent protests in San Francisco by activists calling for an end to China's heavy handed rule over Tibet. Protesters also have gathered to voice their opposition to the Olympic torch making its way through the city next month on its path to the Beijing Games. San Francisco is the only stop for the torch in North America.
Later Thursday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on a resolution calling on China to improve conditions in Tibet.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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