Police Release 911 Call on Suspected Firebombing, Graffiti at North Carolina GOP Office

The suspected firebombing happened early Sunday.

The suspected firebombing happened between midnight Saturday and the time of the call at 8:54 a.m. Sunday, police believe.

"Someone has firebombed through the window of the Republican Party next to me and sprayed all over the side of my building: 'Nazi Republicans leave town or else,'" the 911 caller, who police said owns a business nearby, told police Sunday morning.

The caller attributed a smell at the site to an "incendiary device."

"They threw some sort of firebomb through the window because it smoked up under the porch and all around the window frame," the caller said. "I can smell smoke, so obviously it went out on its own or didn't work well, but it is some sort of incendiary device."

Police said "a bottle containing flammable material was thrown through a front window" of the GOP office, damaging the inside and some furniture "before going out on its own." Graffiti was spray-painted on the side of a building next door.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, said the apparent attack on the building was "more than vandalism -- it's an assault on our democracy."

The governor told reporters this afternoon that state investigators take the incident very seriously and would treat it the same if it had been an attack on an office of the opposing party.

Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens called the apparent attack on the building a "reprehensible act." He added, "I'm extremely appreciative for everybody who is using this as an opportunity to pull our community together, rather than promote division."

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said today of the apparent attack, "There is no justification for the use of violence to advance a political agenda."

Hillsborough Police Chief Duane Hampton said, "We continue to ask for anyone with any information to come forward." Anyone with information can call Hillsborough Investigator Jon Purvis at 919-732-9381 ext. 37.