19-year-old man intentionally sets fire to congressman's office over US TikTok ban

A 19-year-old American is accused of setting fire to the office of Republican Representative Glenn Grothman on Sunday, January 19, 2025. This action would be linked to the ban on TikTok, according to him.

A 19-year-old American man is accused of intentionally starting a fire at a member of Congress' office. According to him, his action was linked to the ban of the TikTok app in the United States.

As reported by Associated Press, the fire occurred at a shopping mall in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where Republican Representative Glenn Grothman is located. Grothman voted in April for a bill that would force TikTok's parent company, based in China, to sell its American operations to avoid a ban on the app in the United States.

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On Saturday night, the TikTok platform temporarily ceased operations in the United States in response to the threat of a ban due to concerns about its ties to China. However, the shutdown only lasted a few hours, until President-elect Donald Trump promised to issue an executive order to reinstate the app.

No injuries

The flames were reported around 1 a.m. on Sunday. The fire broke out outside the building, which was unoccupied at the time, and caused minor damage before being quickly brought under control, reports Le Parisien.

No injuries were reported. The 19-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody and will face arson charges, according to a statement from local police.

“We are relieved that no one was injured and that the office was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Acts of violence in any form will not be tolerated and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community” said Police Chief Aaron Goldstein.

Congressman Glenn Grothman has not yet responded.