At least eight agencies are investigating the cause of a fire at the New Jersey home of a Bayer pharmaceutical executive this month.
The fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. March 4 and "quickly extinguished by the Madison Fire Department," the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said. It added that the home was occupied.
"The structure sustained no significant damage, and there were no reported injuries," the prosecutor's office said.
Multiple agencies — including the FBI, New Jersey State Police, Madison police, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and New York City police — are investigating the matter as arson.
Bayer said that the home belonged to one of its executives and that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
"The family is safe and unharmed," it said. "The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer."
Authorities feared potential attacks on corporate executives in the immediate aftermath of the shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO last year.
Brian Thompson was in New York City in December to speak at the UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference when he was shot and killed outside a Hilton hotel. Luigi Mangione, 26, is charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty.
After the shooting, Americans began to vent their frustration at the medical insurance industry and health care executives faced a wave of threats and harassment. "Wanted" posters were plastered around New York City featuring photos of at least two health insurance companies.
They were accused of “denying medical care for corporate profit.”
Rebecca Weiner, the New York Police Department’s deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, said the attack on Thompson could have a "contagion" effect.
Chris Pierson, founder of BlackCloak cybersecurity company, said Thursday that his firm has had a 50% increase in requests since the end of last year.
“Where we have seen the greatest shift, since December, is in executives and boards demanding that these protective services be in place for not only them but their families, as well,” Pierson said.
