San Francisco police arrested a suspect after an incendiary device was thrown at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Officers later detained the same individual near OpenAI’s headquarters after he allegedly threatened to burn down the building. No one was injured, and authorities said the investigation remains ongoing. OpenAI expressed appreciation for the police response and is assisting law enforcement.
San Francisco police arrested a suspect early Friday after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. According to a report by NBC News, police responded to Altman’s home around 4:12 a.m. PT after receiving a report of a fire.
Investigators said an unknown man threw an incendiary device, causing a fire on an exterior gate before fleeing the scene. Officers later detained the suspect near OpenAI’s headquarters after he allegedly threatened to burn down the building.
The police did not name the suspect but described them as a 20-year-old man. Authorities said charges are still pending and the case remains an active investigation.
“Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters,” an OpenAI spokesperson stated. “Thankfully, no one was hurt. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe.”
The attack comes amid a rise in threats tied to artificial intelligence development, including a recent case in Indiana where shots were fired into the home of a city council member who supported building a data center. The incident follows another security scare in November reported by Wired, in which OpenAI locked down its San Francisco offices after receiving a violent threat.
