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FBI investigates reported incendiary device thrown at ICE building in Atlanta

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 4 outlets across the spectrum.

5 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Person in jacket marked POLICE ICE walking through glass doorway, back to camera.
Image via The HillHow images are chosenReport this image

The FBI is investigating reports of an incendiary device thrown at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night, October 20. The FBI said the device caused minor damage, while one right-side outlet reported none. An FBI statement said there was no known threat to public safety. Outlets on the right say no one was injured and that an unidentified male suspected of attempted arson was caught on camera. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information about the suspect, and no arrests have been made.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. The FBI is investigating reports of an incendiary device thrown at the ICE building in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News
    Center
    The Hill
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, TheBlaze, RedState

  2. The FBI described the device as a Molotov cocktail-style device.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    TheBlaze, RedState

  3. The FBI said there is no known threat to public safety.

    One outletThe Hill· Center

  4. No injuries were reported.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, RedState

  5. The FBI said the device caused minor damage and that no arrests have been made.

    One outletTheBlaze· Far Right

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. The FBI said an unidentified male suspected of attempted arson was caught on camera.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    TheBlaze, RedState

  2. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information about the suspect.

    One outletRedState· Far Right

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The device caused damage to the ICE building.

    The FBI said the device caused minor damage. RedState reported that the device did no damage to the building.

  • The attack happened early Tuesday morning.

    RedState says it happened early Tuesday morning. The FBI said the device was thrown at approximately 8:15 p.m. on October 20.

  • An incendiary device was thrown at the ICE building.

    The left and center outlets describe reports of a possible device that the FBI is investigating. Right-side outlets state that a device was thrown and describe it as an attack.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that the FBI is investigating reports of an incendiary device thrown at the Atlanta ICE building on Tuesday. The left and center describe the device as reported or possible, while the right presents it as an attack within a wider pattern of violence.

  • the left

    1 outlet

    ABC News ran an Associated Press report, so the left’s only coverage here is wire text written elsewhere; its headline hedges with “reports of” and places “incendiary device” in quotation marks.

    FBI is investigating reports of an 'incendiary device' thrown at an ICE building
    ABC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The Hill’s headline calls the device “possible” and presents the account as an FBI statement relayed through NewsNation, without characterizing the attack.

    FBI investigating possible incendiary device thrown at Atlanta ICE building
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets · 1 opinion

    All three right-side outlets, all rated Far Right, frame it as an attack on an ICE office; TheBlaze calls it another in a series and RedState a case of political violence.

    Another ICE office attacked with incendiary device, FBI Loaded verb“claims”“Claims” suggests doubt about an official statement that the article does not contest; “said” reports the same statement without implying doubt.More neutral: saidDisagree with this highlight?
    TheBlazeFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right3

    claimsscarcely a day goes bymajor disaster

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    claimsMore neutral: said

    “Claims” suggests doubt about an official statement that the article does not contest; “said” reports the same statement without implying doubt.

    Another ICE office attacked with incendiary device, FBI claims

    Used byTheBlaze (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    scarcely a day goes byMore neutral: an attempted attack on an ICE office

    It presents a broad generalization about political violence as settled, while the article gives no evidence that this device was politically motivated.

    It seems that scarcely a day goes by now that we don't see some act of political violence, or at least an attempted…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    major disasterMore neutral: serious incident

    It describes a hypothetical outcome in dramatic terms, although the article itself reports minor or no damage.

    Case in point: What could have been a major disaster was averted early Tuesday morning, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

1 outlet

Leads with

  • FBI investigation under way
  • unconfirmed device reports
See the headline from the leftHide the headlines
  • ABC NewsLeftAssociated Press report

    FBI is investigating reports of an 'incendiary device' thrown at an ICE building

    The FBI is investigating reports of an “incendiary device” being thrown at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • FBI statement on evidence collection
  • no known threat to public safety
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    FBI investigating possible incendiary device thrown at Atlanta ICE building

    Federal agents are investigating reports of an incendiary device being thrown at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) downtown Atlanta office Tuesday night. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

2 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • attack on an ICE office
  • suspect caught on camera
  • wider pattern of political violence
See the 3 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • TheBlazeFar Right

    Another ICE office attacked with incendiary device, FBI Loaded verb“claims”“Claims” suggests doubt about an official statement that the article does not contest; “said” reports the same statement without implying doubt.More neutral: saidDisagree with this highlight?

    The Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Atlanta, Georgia, is the latest to be attacked with an incendiary device, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI said the alleged device was tossed at the ICE agency on Tuesday evening. …

    Read at TheBlaze (opens in a new tab)
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    FBI Investigating Incendiary Device Thrown at Atlanta ICE Building

    Agents and technicians collected evidence at the downtown facility that also houses an immigration court; no injuries or major damage were reported.

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar RightOpinion

    Apparent Incendiary Device Used in Attack on Homeland Security/ICE Building in Atlanta

    It seems that Absolutist framing“scarcely a day goes by”It presents a broad generalization about political violence as settled, while the article gives no evidence that this device was politically motivated.More neutral: an attempted attack on an ICE officeDisagree with this highlight? now that we don't see some act of political violence, or at least an attempted act. Case in point: What could have been a Sensational language“major disaster”It describes a hypothetical outcome in dramatic terms, although the article itself reports minor or no damage.More neutral: serious incidentDisagree with this highlight? was averted early Tuesday morning, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Immigration and Customs …

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    ABC News, Oct 21, 2:02 AM EDT

  • Center

    10 hr 27 min later

    Its first report, Oct 21, 12:29 PM EDT

  • Right

    4 hr 30 min later

    Its first report, Oct 21, 6:32 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. ABC NewsLeftOct 21, 2:02 AM EDT
  2. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 21, 6:32 AM EDT
  3. The HillCenterOct 21, 12:29 PM EDT
  4. TheBlazeFar RightOct 21, 4:45 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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