Suspected Khalistan supporters set Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire, US govt condemns
The US State Department has condemned the vandalisation of the Indian consulate in San Francisco by suspected Khalistan separatists.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller tweeted: "The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense."
The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense.
— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) July 3, 2023
As per local US channel named Diya TV, the consulate was set on fire on Sunday morning.
" The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, damage was limited and no staffers were harmed," the news channel tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has served demarche to Canada on the suspected planned protests by pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits outside the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, and two consulates in Toronto and Vancouver on July 8, media reports said.
It has asked the Justin Trudeau government to take strong measures to prevent the protestors from gathering close to missions and consulates, desecrating the Indian National Flag, sticking pamphlets or items to the boundary fence and throwing projectiles into the Indian diplomatic premises in Canada, reports Hindustan Times.
ARSON ATTEMPT AT SF INDIAN CONSULATE: #DiyaTV has verified with @CGISFO @NagenTV that a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 am in the San Francisco Indian Consulate. The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, damage was limited and no… pic.twitter.com/bHXNPmqSVm
— Diya TV - 24/7 * Free * Local (@DiyaTV) July 3, 2023
While the Canadian High Commissioner was called to the South Block on Monday to convey Indian concerns very bluntly, the note verbal was sent to Global Affairs Canada early morning Tuesday (IST), the Indian newspaper reported.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, meanwhile, said the country takes the safety of diplomats very seriously.