GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — A weekend fire at a Golden Valley office building that serves as headquarters for multiple conservative organizations is being investigated as an act of arson.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) tells KARE 11 that the agency is looking into the fire that damaged the interior of the multi-story building at 8421 Wayzata Blvd., along with investigators from the Golden Valley Fire Department, State Fire Marshal's office and the FBI.
"Since it is still an ongoing investigation we are limited what we can add for detail," said ATF spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill.
The building houses the Center for the American Experiment, the Upper Midwest Law Center and Take Charge, all organizations that promote conservative values. In a news release sent out Friday, UMLC Senior Counsel James Dickey called the fires a "deliberate act" and said employees will be working remotely for the foreseeable future as a precautionary measure.
“We will not be intimidated by this apparent act of domestic terrorism. Our resolve to uphold justice and protect the rights of Minnesotans remains unyielding. Despite the setback, the Upper Midwest Law Center will continue to champion the values of fairness, equality and freedom for all,” said Dickey in a written statement.
"The fires obviously were set by someone,” added John Hinderaker, President of Center of the American Experiment. “They targeted conservative organizations, they didn’t firebomb the chiropractors or psychologists or the Manufacturers Alliance. We are cooperating with the FBI to try to identify the perpetrators.”
Hinderaker says the fires started outside the first-floor offices of American Experiment and TakeCharge, and inside the third-floor offices of UMLC. Pictures and video show extensive damage inside the suites including charred and gutted hallways, offices and equipment.
The three-story building houses a variety of small businesses in addition to the three conservative policy organizations.
While they have confirmed an arson investigation, authorities haven't announced the arrest of suspects or a potential motive.
KARE 11's Lou Raguse is following this story and will have details on tonight's broadcasts and kare11.com.
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