Vandalism and attempted arson at the Indian consulate in San Francisco was carried out by pro-Khalistan supporters on July 2, said reports. This is the second such attack on the Indian Consulate in recent months, raising security concerns and showing the threat posed by Khalistani supporters in the US, UK, Canada and Australia after incidents of violence reported against Indian establishments in these countries.
US condemns attack
"The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense,” Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department tweeted.
Fire was suppressed quickly
Around 1:40 am on Sunday, a group of Khalistan radicals made an attempt to set the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on fire, sources told ANI. A video of the incident was verified by sources who told ANI the fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. Calling the attack nothing less than a "terror act" an official told ANI that no major damages or staffers were harmed.
Authorities notified
The Local San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident. There have been several rounds of meetings with police and administration officials after the incident that prompted sharp and immediate action against those responsible for the incident.
Provocative Poster
Also, Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, Consul General, Consulate General of India, San Francisco, have been targeted in a poster purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists who have accused them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, reported news agency ANI.
(With agency inputs)
