Local Republican Party Office in North Carolina Firebombed, Nearby Building Vandalized

HILLSBOROUGH, NC — The headquarters of a county Republican party in North Carolina was severely damaged after a firebomb was thrown through the front window of the building.

According to police, a flammable device was thrown through a front window of the Orange County Republican Party Headquarters, and racist graffiti was found painted on the side of an adjacent building. The graffiti included a swastika and the words, "Nazi Republicans leave town or else."

A business owner in the shopping complex where the headquarters is located discovered and reported the damage before 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The firebomb ignited inside the building and burned some furniture and damaged the interior before going out, authorities say. Police are continuing to investigate the incident with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Kami Mueller, spokeswoman for the North Carolina GOP, tweeted images from inside the headquarters that showed the damage.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 919-732-3975.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory called the incident an "attack on democracy."

The incident comes just three weeks before Election Day. Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of state GOP, was quoted by the Charlotte Observer as calling the incident "political terrorism."

“Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, all Americans should be outraged by this hate-filled and violent attack against our democracy,” Woodhouse said in a statement. “Whether the bomb was meant to kill, destroy property, or intimidate voters, everyone in this country should be free to express their political viewpoints without fear for their own safety. We will be requesting additional security at all Republican Party offices and events between now and Election Day to ensure the safety of our activists, volunteers, and supporters. We will not be deterred by this hate crime."

Speaking at a press conference later in the day, Woodhouse reiterated that the Orange County Republican Party is not going anywhere.

"There is a sign there that says freedom speaks and that is where a significant molotov cocktail, a bomb or some sort of device went in," he said.

Woodhouse said he was thankful no one was inside at the time, saying it would not have been unusual since volunteers work long hours in the office during election season. He said the couch the device went under is a spot where volunteers regularly sit and take naps.

All local offices for the party in North Carolina were asked to voluntarily close early on Sunday. The Durham County Republican Party has provided a mobile office, and Woodhouse said the office would be open for business on Monday.

"We have people walk by and maybe call us Nazis and maybe call us, you know, 'we need to get out of town,'" Daniel Ashley, chair of the Orange County Republican Party, said at the press conference when asked by a reporter to elaborate after he said "no more than usual" to a question about whether the party had received any threats.

Ashley said that being a small minority in Orange County, party members were used to such comments.

Democratic nominee for president Hillary Clinton called the attack "horrific" and "unacceptable."

The North Carolina GOP replied to Clinton's tweet, thanking her.

Later, Republican nominee for president Donald Trump tweeted about the attack. He blamed "animals" representing Clinton and the democrats for the attack and in a second tweet offered his support.

The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following statement.

An advisory is being sent to county Republican offices in North Carolina warning them to take extra caution and speak with local law enforcement officials.

Several people, outraged by the attack, spoke out via Twitter.

Image via NC GOP