SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The White House on Tuesday condemned a violent crash at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco in which a man plowed a driver into the lobby, creating a chaotic scene that ended with a police shooting of the driver, who later died in hospital.
“We condemn this incident and all violence perpetrated against the foreign diplomatic corps of workers working in the United States,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.
U. S. government officials have been in contact with Chinese Foreign Ministry officials following Monday’s incident, according to a White House official who is not authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The White House official added that investigators determined the driver was “acting with malicious intent. “
As of Tuesday morning, police had shared more details about the driver’s identity or how the incident unfolded.
San Francisco police said Monday they don’t know why the unidentified driver crashed into the front of the consulate in Japantown. In a statement, China’s consulate general called the incident a “violent attack. “
Officers responded to the scene in Geary and Laguna shortly after 3 p. m. Upon arrival, officers discovered a car that had crashed into the front of the Chinese consulate and stopped inside the lobby.
Video from the scene showed a blue Honda sedan inside the consulate visa and other people running out of the building.
“Police came in, contacted the suspect and a shootout between police officers ensued,” the SFPD sergeant said. Kathryn Winters added that the suspect died in hospital despite “rescue efforts. “
No injuries were reported in the building.
Police did not provide further details related to the incident. Winters said this is a unique investigation because of the number of jurisdictions and agencies involved that have an effect on how much data can be shared. It may simply not provide any datadata about the suspect or other details.
This is an open and active investigation and the SFPD is conducting it with investigators from the U. S. Department of State. U. S.
The incident comes as San Francisco prepares to host next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim countries. President Joe Biden plans to attend, but it is unclear whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.
President Biden said last week that he may meet with Xi on the sidelines of the summit.
The Chinese consulate general demanded more details about what happened and demanded that it be “treated seriously in accordance with the law. “
“Our embassy strongly condemns this violent attack,” he said.
Consulates have some form of security, such as locally hired guards. Neither the consulate nor San Francisco police immediately responded to questions about security at the facility.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin again called for an investigation at a news briefing on Tuesday, without giving major details about the damage to the consulate or injuries to staff and visitors.
“We strongly urge the United States to launch an investigation and take effective measures to ensure the protection of Chinese diplomatic missions and the workers’ corps there, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement. that govern relations between countries.
The consulate in San Francisco has been attacked several times before. One of the most serious was the fire set by a Chinese man on New Year’s Day 2014 at the main entrance. It burned part of the exterior of the building.
The man, who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, told the government it motivated him through the voices he heard. He was sentenced to approximately three years in prison. Details of damage to the consulate or injury to staff and visitors.
“We strongly urge the United States to launch an investigation and take effective measures to ensure the protection of Chinese diplomatic missions and the workers’ corps there, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement. that govern relations between countries.
The consulate in San Francisco has been attacked several times before. One of the most serious was the fire set by a Chinese man on New Year’s Day 2014 at the main entrance. It burned part of the exterior of the building.
The man, who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, told the government that it motivated him through the voices he heard and sentenced him to about 3 years in prison.