An arsonist severely damaged the front door of China's consulate in San Francisco in a "despicable" attack, Chinese officials said on Thursday, urging US authorities to protect diplomatic personnel.
The State Department responded by saying it was "deeply concerned" by the reports, and pledged to find who carried out the New Year's Day attack and bring them to justice.
"January 1, 2014, at 9:25 pm, a person from a mini-van parking in front of the main entrance of the Chinese Consulate-General .. poured two buckets of gasoline onto the front door .. and then set it on fire," leaving it "severely damaged," said a statement on the consulate's website.
San Francisco's police and fire authorities, as well as the US State Department's diplomatic security, responded "immediately" it said.
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