"We will not be intimidated": Travis County Democratic Party's office hit with a Molotov Cocktail

Austin, Texas – Local law enforcement officers are on the hunt for an attempted arson suspect who was caught on camera throwing a Molotov cocktail into the Travis County Democratic Party's headquarters on Wednesday morning.

The Travis County Democratic Party's headquarters was hit with a Molotov cocktail in an attempted arson on Wednesday morning.
The Travis County Democratic Party's headquarters was hit with a Molotov cocktail in an attempted arson on Wednesday morning.  © Collage: Imago/ZUMA Wire

A small fire broke out at the Travis County Democratic Party's office on East Sixth Street in Austin, Texas around 3 AM EST on Wednesday morning.

Security footage shared by KXAN showed a man wearing an American flag bandana and a face mask throw what appeared to be a rock, along with a Molotov cocktail, through a window at the office.

A suspect for the attempted arson has not yet been arrested.

A Molotov cocktail, also known as a bottle bomb, typically involves a glass bottle that's filled with some sort of flammable liquid and a means for ignition, such as a burning cloth stuffed inside the mouth of the bottle.

Law enforcement noted that while it didn't appear that the incendiary device exploded, there was a stack of papers that had been set on fire right next to it.

Neighboring businesses and residents called 911 in regard to the fire, and both the Austin Fire Department and the Austin Police Department arrived at the scene shortly after.

The chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, Katie Naranjo, labeled the incident as an attack at a press conference on Wednesday.

"I want to make something very clear, though – this was an attack," Naranjo said.

She continued, "The Democratic Party believes in free speech, believes in your right to vote, and we will not be intimidated, and we will not be threatened."

In addition to the Molotov cocktail, Naranjo also said there was a note left with a politically motivated threat.

The contents of the note have not yet been released.

Cover photo: Collage: Imago/ZUMA Wire

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