Incident Summary:

5/25/1970: Unknown African American perpetrators firebombed the Chapman Lumber Company in Oxford, North Carolina, United States. There were no casualties but the business was destroyed. This incident took place during heightened racial tensions in Oxford.

GTD ID:
197005250001

When:
1970-05-25

Country:
United States

Region:
North America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

North Carolina

City:
Oxford

Location Details:
McClanahan St.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity White owned business in Oxford North Carolina
Specific Description Chapman Lumber Company
Nationality of Target United States
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Molotov Cocktail/Petrol Bomb
Weapon Details
Firebomb
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Additional Information James Currin Antiques, a White owned business, was firebombed minutes before the incident, around 12:00 AM, as part of diversionary tactic. Two weeks before the firebombing, there was a racial slaying of an African American in Oxford which resulted in numerous demonstrations and riots. Other incidents in Oxford include 197005260001, 197005260002, 197005140004, and 197005130003.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Black Nationalists No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Timothy B. Tyson, "Blood Dones Sign My Name," Crown Publishers, 2004.
Committee on Government Operations United States Senate, "Riots, Civil, and Criminal Disorders," U.S. Government Printing Office, August 6, 1970.
"Warehouses Burned in N.C. Town," Washington Post, May 27, 1970.