Donald Trump accuses Hillary Clinton supporters of firebombing North Carolina GOP office
UPDATE (7:55 pm ET): Updated to add statement from Mike Pence
UPDATE (10:00 pm ET): Updated to include information about crowdfunding campaign
UPDATE Oct. 17 (4:05 pm ET): Updated to include video of 911 call.
You May Also Like
After a local GOP headquarters in Hillsborough, NC was firebombed and sprayed with graffiti on Saturday night, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump accused supporters of Hillary Clinton of being responsible for the destruction.
According to Hillsborough police, someone threw flammable liquid through the window of the Orange County GOP office and spray-painted a swastika along with "Nazi Republicans leave town or else" on an adjacent building.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Speaking to the Charlotte Observer, North Carolina governor Pat McCrory called the incident "political terrorism."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens called it a "disturbing act" in a statement and added, "its hateful message undermines decency, respect and integrity in civic participation."
As for the candidates themselves, Clinton tweeted a note of solidarity to the North Carolina GOP, calling it "horrific."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Responding, the North Carolina GOP thanked Clinton for her statement.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
But just moments after that exchange, Trump tweeted his thoughts on the incident and accused "animals representing Hillary Clinton" of being behind the deed. He then added his support for the North Carolina GOP.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Despite Trump's assertion, police have not named any suspects.
GOP vice presidential candidate Mike Pence also weighed in though his statement was not inflammatory, unlike his running mate.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
By late Sunday night, a GoFundMe campaign started by Democrats to help the North Carolina GOP reopen the office had easily surpassed its $10,000 goal within four hours.
Hillsborough is the county seat of Orange County, which also includes much of Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina campus. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 3-1 margin in the county that picked President Barack Obama by a lopsided margin in the 2012 election.
The GOP office is located at a retail complex along the interstate that's several miles from the town's historic square.
On Monday, the Town of Hillsborough, NC posted a recording of the Orange County 911 call related to the crime at Republican Party Headquarters, received on Oct. 16.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is currently assisting the Hillsborough Police with the investigation.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press
Topics Donald Trump Elections Hillary Clinton
Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
