A person accused of setting a hearth at a strip mall in Wisconsin the place a congressman’s workplace is positioned advised authorities he was motivated by the federal ban on TikTok.
The workplace of Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman, who voted final April for a invoice that mandated TikTok’s China-based mother or father firm promote its U.S. operation by Sunday to keep away from being banned within the U.S., was positioned within the mall in Fond du Lac.
The hearth was first reported round 1 a.m. Sunday. The hearth rescue stated in a Fb submit that law enforcement officials used fireplace extinguishers to carry the blaze at bay till fireplace crews arrived.
The hearth started exterior the constructing — which was unoccupied on the time — and precipitated minor harm earlier than it was extinguished. No accidents have been reported.
A 19-year-old Menasha man, whose identify has not been launched, was in custody and will probably be charged with arson, police stated. They stated he was arrested after he was seen close to the mall watching the fireplace.
“We are relieved that no one was injured and the office was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Acts of violence, in any form are not tolerated, and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community,” police Chief Aaron Goldstein stated in an announcement. “I am thankful for the swift response of our Officers in helping knock down the fire and also locating the suspect of this arson.”
Grothman stated he was conscious of the fireplace however had no speedy remark.
On Saturday night time, the favored video-sharing platform voluntarily shut down its operation within the U.S. in response to the approaching ban over considerations about its ties to China. The shutdown solely lasted just a few hours and the corporate restored service on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to subject an government order to revive the app.