San Francisco police arrested an individual early on Friday morning for allegedly attacking the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and making threats outside of the company’s headquarters, a spokesperson confirmed to WIRED. OpenAI’s corporate security team sent a note to employees about the incident on Friday.
“At approximately 3:45am PT, an unidentified individual approached Sam’s residence and threw an incendiary device toward the property. The device landed nearby and extinguished. There were no injuries and only minimal damage was reported,” the message to staff reads.
“Shortly afterward, an individual matching the suspect’s description was contacted by security outside MB1,” the message continues, referring to OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. “This person made threatening statements about the building.”
OpenAI’s corporate security team told staff it is cooperating with law enforcement on an investigation, and that employees may notice an increased police and security presence around the office on Friday. The security team said that the company’s offices remain open, but employees were advised to “not let anyone tailgate into the building.”
The San Francisco Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement shared on social media, the police said that at approximately 4:12 am, officers responded to a fire investigation in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. An “incendiary device” had been thrown at a residential property, which caused an exterior gate to light on fire. The suspect fled on foot.
Less than an hour later, a person who police recognized as the same suspect was found outside of OpenAI’s offices threatening to burn down the building. Officers detained the suspect, an unidentified 20-year-old male, and arrested him on the scene.
No injuries have been reported, and charges are still pending, SFPD said in the statement.
“Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt,” said OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood in an email to WIRED. “We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation.”
This is the latest incident in which OpenAI’s office and staff have been threatened. In November of last year, OpenAI locked down its San Francisco office following an alleged threat from an activist. In February 2025, protesters were arrested for locking the front doors to OpenAI’s office.
Lauren Goode contributed reporting.
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