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Sunday, 3 October 2021

Texas man, 30, is arrested for Molotov cocktail attack on Austin Democrat Headquarters after police were tipped off on Facebook by 'informant'

 A Texas man has been arrested over a firebomb attack on the Democratic Party's county office in Austin.

 A man wearing an American flag bandana was caught on surveillance video throwing a Molotov cocktail into the headquarters in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

Ryan Faircloth, 30, was arrested over the attack on Friday and faces federal charges of arson and attempted arson, according to court documents. 

He is being held at the Travis County Jail in Austin on $40,000 bail, according to jail records. 

The documents didn't say whether Faircloth had an attorney yet.

No one was in the Travis County Democratic Party headquarters when it was attacked at around 2am Wednesday morning and only a small stack of papers caught fire, officials said. 

The blaze was quickly extinguished by employees of a neighboring business.

Investigators received multiple tips after releasing the surveillance video, according to a complaint filed in federal court by FBI task force officer Ryan Metcalf. One of the tips led to Faircloth's social media.

The video shows a man wearing an American flag bandana on his head along with a face mark, black shorts, dark tennis shoes and a gray t-shirt throw something into the building. 

Police were led to Faircloth after a tipster led them to his Facebook page and provided text messages from the suspect, according to the arrest affidavit. He remains in custody at Travis County Jail in Austin, according to jail records

Police were led to Faircloth after a tipster led them to his Facebook page and provided text messages from the suspect, according to the arrest affidavit. He remains in custody at Travis County Jail in Austin, according to jail records

Surveillance footage shows the moment that the Molotov cocktail was through inside the Democratic Headquarters and quickly burst into small flames

Surveillance footage shows the moment that the Molotov cocktail was through inside the Democratic Headquarters and quickly burst into small flames

TX man arrested for Molotov cocktail attack on Austin Dem offices
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About four-and-a-half minutes later, he returns with a dark brown bottle in his left hand. Then nearly seven minutes later, he is seen again as he runs back the way he came. 

A small flash appears in the right-hand corner of the footage which is quickly followed by flames spreading from the corner of the windows. 

A second angle, from within the building, shows the Molotov cocktail being thrown inside the building and burst into small flames. 

Authorities said in court documents that Faircloth left a note at the scene that mentioned states and a city with Democratic majorities or Democratic federal lawmakers. 

It then stated, 'One thing you can't have is Texas,' and 'Consider this a 'light' warning,' according to a photograph in the document.

Information found online and other evidence led arson investigators and the FBI to arrest Faircloth who, while being questioned, admitted he built the device and left it at the building, according to the complaint.

The arrest affidavit reports that law enforcement received a tip that led them to Faircloth's Facebook page which matched writing style of the note left behind at the scene, according to Law and Crime.  


Austin Fire Department arson investigators Lt. Steven Silverthorn, left, and Lt. Kelly Gall investigate at the Travis County Democratic Party office on Wednesday

Austin Fire Department arson investigators Lt. Steven Silverthorn, left, and Lt. Kelly Gall investigate at the Travis County Democratic Party office on Wednesday

Lt. Silverthorn, right, and Lt. Gall, left, were called to the scene on East 6th Street in Austin, Texas, after someone threw a Molotov cocktail into the building

Lt. Silverthorn, right, and Lt. Gall, left, were called to the scene on East 6th Street in Austin, Texas, after someone threw a Molotov cocktail into the building

A rock remains on the floor at the Austin Democratic Party office after someone threw a rock and an incendiary device into the building

A rock remains on the floor at the Austin Democratic Party office after someone threw a rock and an incendiary device into the building

The firey concoction caught fire to a small stack of papers before the flames were quickly extinguished by employees of a neighboring business

The firey concoction caught fire to a small stack of papers before the flames were quickly extinguished by employees of a neighboring business

The person also shared text messages allegedly sent from Faircloth, one of which reads: '6th street location is on watch now,' referencing the East 6th Street location of the Democratic Headquarters. 

'He described using a wine bottle, gasoline, and a sock to construct the device. He admitted knowing that gasoline is flammable. He further confirmed his participation in the events,' the complaint states.

Austin Fire arson investigator Capt. Jeffrey Deane said Friday that the attack was politically motivated.

'This person was not happy with the current political climate. He blamed this office and who they represent for a lot of the issues that he saw as problems with the country,' Deane said. 

'For that reason this was an intentional act. This was the intended target. And that was why he did what he did,' he explained. 'He was forthcoming and confessed to that.'

Deane also shared that Faircloth did not have a history 'of anything like this.'  

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