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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — Federal investigators are looking into a fire that occurred early Sunday morning, which caused significant damage to the entrance of the Republican Party of New Mexico’s headquarters in Albuquerque.
Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly before 6 a.m. and managed to control the flames within approximately five minutes, as reported by Lt. Jason Fejer from Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
No injuries were reported, and the building was empty at the time of the incident. However, the entryway sustained severe damage, and there was extensive smoke infiltration throughout the office, which is staffed by three full-time employees, according to statements from Fejer and party officials.
A photograph shared by GOP representatives revealed a severely charred entrance, with remnants of wood and burnt insulation littering the ground alongside a door that had been burned and broken, leaning against a wall.
The Republican Party’s office security system promptly detected the fire, noted New Mexico Republican Party Chair Amy Barela. She expressed gratitude toward the firefighters for their swift action, which she believes helped prevent the fire from spreading further.
Additionally, Barela mentioned that party representatives discovered graffiti on the side of the building, approximately 50 feet (15 meters) away from the entrance, which read “ICE=KKK.”
Federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were present at the site to conduct an investigation, as confirmed by Fejer and local police departments.
At this time, representatives from the federal agencies have not provided further details regarding the investigation or potential leads.
Source
abcnews.go.com