Vandalism, fire-bombing at GOP office in NC

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (FOX 13) - Police in the city of Hillsborough, North Carolina are investigating a case of vandalism and a fire-bombing at the Orange County Republican Party Headquarters.

According to the city's website, the building was struck overnight with hate graffiti and with a flammable material thrown through a front window of the headquarters. The graffiti — which included a swastika and the words “Nazi Republicans leave town or else” — was spray-painted in black on the side of an adjacent building. The damage was discovered Sunday morning by another business owner, who reported it before 9:00 a.m.

No one was injured, but officials are alerting other party offices.  

The flammable substance appears to have ignited inside the building, burned some furniture and damaged the building’s interior before going out. The substance was housed in a bottle thrown through one of the building’s front windows. No damage estimates are available yet, and Hillsborough police are continuing to investigate the incident with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“This highly disturbing act goes far beyond vandalizing property; it willfully threatens our community’s safety via fire, and its hateful message undermines decency, respect and integrity in civic participation,” Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens said. “I believe I speak for the overwhelming majority of people who make Hillsborough their home: Acts like this have no place in our community. Our law enforcement officials are responding quickly and thoroughly to investigate this reprehensible act and prosecute the perpetrators.”

The North Carolina GOP and Democrats have also publicly condemned the attack.

So far, police have not released the names of any suspects.