OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home targeted in Molotov cocktail attack; man arrested: police

In a startling incident, a man reportedly hurled a Molotov cocktail at the residence of Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. The individual is now in custody, according to a representative from the AI firm.

“Early this morning, an individual targeted Sam Altman’s home with a Molotov cocktail and issued threats at our San Francisco headquarters. We are relieved to report that no injuries occurred,” stated the company spokesperson.

The spokesperson further expressed gratitude for the swift response by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) and acknowledged the city’s efforts in ensuring the safety of OpenAI’s staff. “The suspect is now detained, and we are actively cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation,” they added.

The San Francisco Police Department identified the suspect as a 20-year-old male. In an official statement, the police detailed their response: “On April 10, 2026, around 4:12 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in North Beach concerning a fire investigation. Upon arrival, they discovered that an unidentified male had thrown an incendiary device at a home, igniting a fire on an exterior gate. The suspect then fled the scene on foot. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.”

“On April 10, 2026, at approximately 4:12 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a North Beach residence regarding a fire investigation. At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary destructive device at a home, causing a fire to an exterior gate. The suspect then fled on foot. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident,” police said in a statement.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Inc. (Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“The suspect’s description was broadcast to all officers. At approximately 5:07 a.m., SFPD officers responded to a business on the 1400 block of 3rd street regarding an unknown male subject threatening to burn down the building. When officers arrived on scene, they recognized the male to be the same suspect from the earlier incident and immediately detained him.”

OpenAI headquarters in San Francisco, California

The exterior of the OpenAI offices in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco in December 2025.  (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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