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Ohio police investigating home explosion as possible hate crime after Nazi graffiti found

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Authorities in Ohio are reportedly investigating a home explosion Wednesday as a possible hate crime after finding racial slurs and swastika graffiti. 

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department said on Facebook that nobody was injured in the house explosion in Sterling. 

Sheriff Travis Hutchinson told reporters police found racial slurs and a swastika painted on the home’s garage and a neighbor’s car, NBC News reports. {mosads}

“We’re not going to tolerate that type of activity and behavior here,” Hutchinson told reporters. “We’re going to make sure that we use all the resources available to us, including the FBI, state fire marshal and our office, and any other agency we need to bring in to fully investigate this.”

Homeowner Angela Frase, who is black, told Fox 8 she is in disbelief “that there’s still this much hatred in America.” 

She told the outlet she and her husband, who is white, lived on the street for 23 years and never had a problem. 

“We decided whatever happens, we’re not rebuilding here. We’re not coming back. We’re done,” she said. 

Hutchinson told reporters a deputy went to the home Tuesday after construction crews reported a gas leak and did not find graffiti.

The couple was not at home at the time of the explosion. 

“It’s a blessing me and my husband … were not here,” she told Fox 8. “Last night I got up here, I threw up twice. I woke up this morning thinking maybe this is a dream. It’s gone. Everything we own is gone. I know it can be replaced, but sentimental things, personal things you can’t get back. It’s gone.”

Tags explosion Ohio racist graffiti

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