Police in central North Carolina are investigating the reported vandalism of local Republican Party headquarters.
The Orange County building was damaged with fire on Oct. 15, after a molotov cocktail was tossed through a front window, authorities said. A swastika and the words “Nazi Republicans leave town or else” were spray-painted in black on the side of a building next door. No one has been reported injured.
“This highly disturbing act goes far beyond vandalizing property; it willfully threatens our community’s safety via fire, and its hateful message undermines decency, respect and integrity in civic participation,” said Hillsborough mayor Tom Stevens.
The North Carolina executive director of the state Republican party told the Charlotte Observer that damage to the office was considered “a total loss.” So far no one has been charged or arrested in the incident.
North Carolina is a fiercely contested battleground state in the US presidential election. A Real Clear Politics analysis of recent polls show Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton holds an edge over her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.