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U.S. Republican county headquarters in swing state of North Carolina firebombed: report

Xinhua, October 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

The U.S. Republican Party headquarters in Orange County of the key swing state of North Carolina was firebombed overnight, local police reported Sunday afternoon. Graffiti saying "Nazi Republicans leave town or else" was found nearby.

A bottle of flammable material was thrown through one of the building's front windows, starting a fire inside, a CBS-WNCN report quoted police source as saying.

"The flammable substance appears to have ignited inside the building, burned some furniture and damaged the building' s interior before going out," said a statement on the town website for Hillsborough, where the incident took place.

"The office itself is a total loss," said Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of state Republican Party.No one was hurt and no damage estimates were available.

On the side of a building next to the Republican headquarters, graffiti saying "Nazi Republicans leave town or else" was spray painted in black paint, according to the police.

The North Carolina Republican Party released a statement Sunday afternoon calling the incident a "hate crime", saying they would increase security at events and offices.

"Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, all Americans should be outraged by this hate-filled and violent attack against our democracy," said Woodhouse.

"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. Enditem