Two public collection points for voting envelopes for the presidential elections were set on fire in the American states of Oregon and Washington on Monday. Hundreds of ballots were burned, authorities are calling it an “attack on democracy” and the FBI is investigating.
According to authorities, two public ballot boxes were set on fire within a few hours in Vancouver, Washington state, and in the major city of Portland, Oregon. When the fire brigade arrived, they found an incendiary device at the collection points that had caused the ballots to catch fire.
The first incident was reported to police in Portland around 3:30 am (local time) on Monday morning. “Our officers quickly determined that an incendiary device had been attached to the ballot box, causing the fire,” a police spokesperson said at a news conference. A special police unit went out and extinguished the firebomb.
Authorities identify “attack on democracy”
Tim Scott, elections director for Multnomah County, where Portland is located, said a fire extinguisher in the ballot box protected nearly all the ballots, but only three ballots were damaged. A solution for affected voters is currently underway, the report said. The authorities speak of an “attack on democracy”. “We are concerned about this deliberate attempt to influence the election process,” police said.
Half an hour after the first incident, emergency services went to a polling station in Vancouver. When they arrived, the ballot box was already on fire. An incendiary device similar to the one in Portland was also found here. Authorities believe hundreds of ballots have been damaged. Footage from surveillance video released by police shows the suspected arsonist in a car (see photo above).
The police and FBI are investigating. Investigating authorities suspect a link between Monday’s two incidents and another attack of this type in Vancouver, which took place on October 8. Although Portland and Vancouver are in different states, they are neighboring cities.
Source: Krone
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