Authorities warned of the potential for extra assaults on poll packing containers after a collection of arson incidents in Oregon and Washington state.
Poll packing containers in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, had been set on fireplace with incendiary gadgets early Monday, police stated. Authorities consider the 2 incidents, in addition to an identical incident that occurred earlier this month in Vancouver, are related.
“Investigators consider it is extremely potential the suspect intends to proceed these focused assaults throughout the realm,” Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Mike Benner stated at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Authorities reply to a hearth at a poll field in Vancouver, Washington, Oct. 28, 2024.
KATU
Benner described the suspect sought within the three incidents as a white male between the ages of 30 and 40 with “balding or very quick hair,” a skinny face and medium to skinny construct.
“We consider this suspect has a wealth of expertise in steel fabrication and welding,” Benner stated.
Police are searching for one suspect within the case, Benner stated.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day stated that with out a suspect in custody they “must assume that there are different occasions which can be prone to happen,” however that he’s inspired by the progress within the investigation to date.
Police had beforehand launched photographs of a suspect car being sought in reference to the incidents. The car is believed to be a Volvo S-60 from 2001 to 2004 with a tan or light-gray inside. The car has darkish wheels, unpainted physique trim and no entrance license plate, police stated.
The FBI is investigating the incidents, an company spokesperson stated.
The Portland Police Bureau launched a picture of a suspect car being sought in reference to the poll field fireplace.
Portland Police Bureau
Benner stated police intend so as to add further patrols round poll packing containers within the wake of the assaults. Officers can even have “excessive visibility” when it comes to their presence subsequent week, Day stated.
The latest incidents occurred early Monday, when two poll packing containers had been set on fireplace with incendiary gadgets that had been connected to them, police stated.
Three ballots had been broken within the Portland incident, whereas fireplace suppressant prevented additional injury, election officers stated. Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott informed ABC Information that 409 ballots contained in the poll field “had been undamaged” and preserved due to the hearth suppressant.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey informed ABC Information on Wednesday that the county has recognized 475 broken ballots within the Vancouver incident. The poll field had a hearth suppression machine, which did seem to work very nicely, he stated.
It’s unclear presently what number of ballots had been fully destroyed, he stated.
Election officers in each states stated they might guarantee impacted voters have alternative ballots in time.
Burned ballots are displayed by the Clark County Elections Board in Vancouver, Washington, Oct. 29, 2024.
Clark County Elections Board
Monday’s incident is just like an incident that occurred on Oct. 8 in Vancouver, through which a poll field was set on fireplace, police stated.
The incendiary machine utilized in that incident had “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” on it, two sources acquainted with the continued investigation informed ABC Information.
The 2 subsequent gadgets, set off within the early hours of Monday morning in Vancouver, Washington and close by Portland, Oregon, carried the slogan “Free Gaza,” in response to the sources.
One of many sources informed ABC Information it was unclear whether or not these markings mirror the views of a pro-Palestine activist — or if it was a person attempting to control present divisions within the U.S.
ABC Information’ Pierre Thomas, Lucien Bruggeman and Chris Boccia contributed to this report.
