Investigators revealed that devices marked with the words “Free Gaza” were left at ballot boxes that were set on fire in the Pacific Northwest on Monday.
Detectives were working to determine whether the arsonist was a pro-Palestinian activist or was simply using the divisive conflict to inflame tensions ahead of the election, police sources told The Associated Press. New York Times
Police described the fires in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, as a “direct attack on American democracy.”
Investigators have released an image of a black Volvo S-60 without the front license plate that they are trying to locate. No suspects have been named.
The ballot boxes were set on fire by an unknown arsonist in the Pacific Northwest on Monday.
Investigators are searching for a suspicious vehicle, a black Volvo S-60, which was captured on security footage leaving the devices before they exploded at the polls.
Police sources noted that while investigations into the motive behind the ‘Free Gaza’ devices are ongoing, they have undoubtedly added another layer to the situation that has attracted national attention ahead of election day.
A third device with the words “Free Palestine” was also reported to have been found in Vancouver this month, and officials said they believe the three events are related, the Times reported.
On Tuesday, Mike Benner, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said he was not aware of the markings on the devices, but said they had been sent for forensic analysis.
“As part of that analysis, the device will be examined for unique writing and markings,” he said.
Authorities seen working to put out a fire at an urn in Vancouver, WA began early Monday morning. It was one of two fires set at two ballot boxes in two different states.
An image released by the Portland Police Bureau shows the urn after an “incendiary device” was discovered inside the urn causing a fire.
Fire was burning at the polls in Vancouver, WA, early Monday morning. Police say the fire was caused by a device placed outside the ballot box that had hundreds of ballots in it at the time.
It is unclear how many ballots were destroyed in the fires, however, at one of the Portland locations only three votes were ruined because the polls’ automatic fire suppression system extinguished the fire.
The fire suppression system didn’t work as well in Vancouver and hundreds of ballots were destroyed, officials said.
The difference may have been how the perpetrator placed the “incendiary” device, as in Portland, the device was placed inside the urn, while in Vancouver the device was left outside.
Election authorities are asking anyone who dropped a ballot at the Vancouver site after Saturday morning to request a replacement ballot.
Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott revealed that Oregon County has now employed 24-hour private security ‘roving patrols’ to ‘put eyes on drop boxes.’
The latest troubling incident comes a week after Pennsylvania launched an investigation into 2,500 allegedly fraudulent voter applications.
And while Oregon and Washington are not swing states, this month’s elections could have an impact on down-ballot races.
In particular, a congressional race in southwest Washington between incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez and Joe Kent has drawn attention, as it is considered one of the most competitive in the country.