US deeply concerned over fire at Chinese Consulate

The United States has expressed its deep concern over the damage caused to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, which is being investigated by the FBI.
"The United States is deeply concerned by reports that the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco was damaged after being targeted by an arsonist on Wednesday, January 1," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said yesterday.
"We take this incident very seriously, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security is working with the FBI and local authorities to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators. Department officials are communicating with Chinese officials to provide support and updates on the case," she said.

Harf said San Francisco police and fire departments and Diplomatic security agents were notified and responded to the report of the fire at the front entrance.
The fire and police departments in San Francisco reported that two gas canisters were lit on fire in front of the consulate by an unknown male, which caused damage to the front entrance.
No one was hurt in the fire that charred a doorway, damaged the lobby and burned upward toward the roof.

"The FBI is actually leading the investigation into the incident. No suspects have been identified or taken into custody, and I don't think a determination has been made definitively about exactly what happened," Harf said.

The United States has been in continuous contact with the Chinese Consulate and the Chinese Embassy in Washington following the incident.
"We continue to work diplomatically and update our Chinese counterparts on the case as more information comes in," Harf said.