The FBI is investigating after a Bayer pharmaceutical executive’s New Jersey home caught fire earlier this month in a suspected arson attack.
No one was injured in the March 4 incident, though the home was occupied at the time, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecutor’s office said the fire, which was reported around 7:30 a.m., was quickly extinguished by the Madison Fire Department and the structure sustained “no significant damage.”
In addition to the FBI, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit, Madison Police, Morris County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office K-9 Unit, NJ Transit Police, MTA Police Department and New York Police Department are aiding the investigation.
Bayer confirmed the incident in a statement to CNN and said it would cooperate fully with the investigation.
“The family is safe and unharmed,” Bayer said. “The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer. The incident is under active investigation.
“We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement.”
The incident comes three months after a man gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen New York City attack, setting off fears of copycat attacks elsewhere.
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Those fears are justified, according to a Homeland Security report obtained by ABC News, which noted an increase in online threats targeting high-profile executives after Thompson’s murder.