‘Strongly Condemn’: US Reacts After Khalistan Supporters Attack Indian Consulate in San Francisco Again – News18

The Indian consulate in San Francisco was subjected to arson during the early hours of Sunday morning, specifically between 1:30 and 2:30 am, reported according to a report by Diya TV, a local channel. This is the second attack on the consulate by Khalistan supporters in a span of five months. The first attack was in March.

The United States has strongly condemned the attack.

“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, spokesperson for the US State Department tweeted.

Khalistan supporters had in March allegedly attacked Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Following the incident, India had lodged a strong protest with US Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi. Videos had emerged on social media of Khalistani supporters, breaking the doors and barging into the office while loud Punjabi music played in the background.

The supporters also painted graffiti with the words #FREEAmritpal on the wall of the building.

The videos showed men smashing the glass on doors and windows of the consulate building with the wooden butt of the Khalistan flags they were earlier seen waving.

In another attack, the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was pulled down by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans.

Images of shattered windows and men climbing the India House building were circulating on social media and videos from the scene show an Indian official grabbing the flag from a protester through the first-floor window of the mission, while the protester is seen waving a Khalistan flag hanging off its ledge.