Investigators said they suspect arson in a fire that caused major damage Friday morning at the Arizona Democratic Party headquarters in Phoenix.
“After … gathering the evidence they determined it was a man-made fire,” Phoenix Fire Department Captain Rob McDade said at a press conference.
The investigation into the fire is still ongoing, and the Phoenix Police Department is asking people who were in the area on Thursday night or early Friday morning to alert them with any new information.
“It is very annoying,” said Steven Slugocki, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party. “We lost all our things, computers, equipment, printers, files … everything is gone.”
Thank you for the interview. It has been a heartbreaking day. https://t.co/gBiqI58hWu
– Steven Slugocki (@Slugocki) July 24, 2020
No one was inside the headquarters at the time of the fire.
“We are fully cooperating with local authorities as they continue their investigation into the fire the night before. We are grateful to those who have expressed love and concern for the well-being of our staff, and we are even more grateful to the first responders who were on the scene last night and today. We encourage the public to assist local authorities in their work, and we continue our work safely and remotely, ”the Arizona Democratic Party said in a statement.
The Arizona Republican Party added that “anyone who commits an act of violence, especially politically motivated violence, against any individual, party, or group in Arizona must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of our laws.”
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