The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is offering a reward of $15,000 for anyone who can provide information that will help identify and arrest individuals behind the fire set to the DC headquarters of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) building on Sunday, May 31.
A group of people set ablaze the lobby of the AFL-CIO building located on 16th Street, Northwest Washington during the protests organized in the city to demand justice for the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The fire caused an estimated damage of $1 million to the union federation.
After Sunday’s damage to the building, we made the decision to board up our headquarters. That doesn’t mean the message isn’t there: #BlackLivesMatter. Keep the art coming. #1u
📸: @aletweetsnews pic.twitter.com/zhvbHzXxBV
— AFL-CIO ✊ Pass the #PROAct (@AFLCIO) June 5, 2020
The reward announcement came on Saturday from the ATF, which claims there were over 10 perpetrators who vandalized and burglarized the place before setting fire to the lobby.
The agency’s investigators have photos of some of the suspects showing them breaking in the building.
They have been cooperating with the DC Arson & Explosives Task Force, including the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department.
Now the ATF is asking for the public’s help in identifying them.
Anyone who has useful information is asked to contact the ATF tip line at 1-888-283-3473 or the MPD Command Information Center at 202-727-9099. Information can also be shared via the ATF’s website (www.atf.gov/contact/atftips) or ATF’s email (ATFTips@atf.gov).
On the same night of the AFL-CIO fire, DC Fire & EMS responded to more than 100 fire-related incidents, including the one at St. John’s Episcopal Church, where President Donald Trump posed with a Bible the next day.
Prior to last Monday’s photo op, DC police dispersed protesters with tear gas and plastic bullets in a controversial move that prompted a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
ACLU Sues Trump Administration for Firing Tear Gas on Protesters in DC