Authorities investigate damaging fire at New Mexico's GOP headquarters
[March 31, 2025]
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) — Federal authorities are
investigating a fire early Sunday that damaged the entryway to the
headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Agents working with local authorities recovered unspecified “incendiary
materials” at the scene, said Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives spokesperson Cody Monday. He declined to say what the
materials were or to share further details.
The fire follows numerous acts of vandalism in recent weeks directed
against Tesla, the electric-car company whose owner, Elon Musk, has led
Republican President Donald Trump’s effort to slash the federal
workforce. Several of those cases involved Molotov cocktails that were
used to start fires at dealerships. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has
called it a “wave of domestic terrorism.”
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This photo provided by the Republican Party of New Mexico shows damage
to the group's headquarters building from a fire, Sunday, March 30,
2025, in Albuquerque, N.M. (Republican Party of New Mexico via AP) |
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Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s
electric-car company are cropping up across the U.S. and
overseas. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms,
vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars have
been targeted.
Firefighters responded to the fire just before 6 a.m. and
brought it under control within about five minutes, according to
Lt. Jason Fejer with Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
The building was unoccupied and no one was injured. But the
blaze badly burned the entrance and caused extensive smoke
damage throughout the office, where three people work full time,
according to Fejer and Republican party representatives.
A photo provided by GOP representatives showed the charred
entrance of the building with wood and pieces of burned
insulation scattered on the ground. A broken and burned door was
set to one side.
The GOP office’s security system detected the fire, said New
Mexico Republican Party Chair Amy Barela. She credited
firefighters with quickly extinguishing the flames and
preventing the fire from spreading.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller called arson a cowardly act.
“Politically motivated crimes of any kind are unacceptable, and
I am grateful to our fire department for their swift response,"
the mayor, a Democrat, said in a statement Sunday afternoon.
"This incident is being investigated at the federal level, and I
urge anyone with information to report it immediately.”
Barela said GOP representatives also found spray paint on the
side of the building about 50 feet (15 meters) from the
entrance, saying “ICE=KKK.” Monday, the ATF spokesperson,
declined to comment on the graffiti.
Agents from the FBI also were on the scene investigating,
according to Fejer. FBI representatives could not be reached
immediately for comment.
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