Arson suspect arrested at Altman’s home

San Francisco police arrested a 20-year-old man after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Sam Altman’s home and threats were made at OpenAI’s headquarters. (nbcnews.com) Police said officers were sent to a home in North Beach at 4:12 a.m. on Friday, April 10, after someone threw an “incendiary destructive device” that set an exterior gate on fire. No one was injured, and the suspect fled on foot. (abcnews.com) At 5:07 a.m., officers responded to the 1400 block of Third Street after a man was reported threatening to burn down a building. Police said officers recognized him as the same suspect from the earlier fire and detained him near OpenAI’s office at 1455 Third Street. (nbcnews.com) The San Francisco Police Department said charges were still pending as of April 10, and the case remained an open investigation. ABC News reported the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said it could take until the following week to decide whether charges would be local or federal. (abcnews.com) OpenAI said “Thankfully, no one was hurt” and said it was assisting law enforcement. The company said there was no immediate threat to its offices after the arrest. (nbcnews.com) Altman addressed the attack in a post on his personal blog on April 10 and published a photo of his husband and son. He wrote that he was sharing the image “in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house.” (samaltman.com) The attack landed during a period of heavy scrutiny around OpenAI and Altman. CNBC reported the company faced criticism in February over a Department of Defense deal, and Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman is expected to go to trial later in April. (cnbc.com) Investigators had not publicly identified a motive as of April 10. ABC News reported that people briefed on the case said investigators were examining whether the episode involved a mental health crisis, an employment grievance, or domestic terrorism. (abcnews.com) For now, the public facts are narrow: a gate was set on fire, a suspect was arrested within about an hour, and police have not reported injuries. The next step is the filing decision by prosecutors. (abcnews.com)