The police are hunting pyromaniacs - set fire to ballot boxes

 

The US presidential election
The police are hunting the election arsonist - think he will strike again

Amanda Hällsten

Published 21.27

 

The car the police are chasing. Photo: The police

A man is suspected of setting fire to ballot boxes in several locations in the United States.

His getaway vehicle is believed to have been captured on video.

Now the police fear that the man will strike again.

On three different occasions, ballot boxes in Washington and Oregon have started burning.

Hundreds of ballots have been destroyed in the fires. Now the American police suspect that it may be the same perpetrator who is behind all the fires.

They also fear he may strike again.

On Monday, two ballot boxes caught fire in Washington and Oregon, and also on October 8, a fire started at ballot boxes in Washington.

Burned ballots. Photo: Clark County.

 

 

Photo: AP

Devices placed at the boxes

Back in September, US police warned that people on social media were discussing different ways to sabotage early voting and get away with it.

The fires at the ballot boxes are suspected to have been started with the help of various devices placed outside the boxes.

The attacks are now being investigated by the FBI.

"We are working closely and expeditiously with the District Attorney's Office to investigate the fires at the ballot boxes," the FBI said in a statement.

The suspect has not yet been located, but police believe his vehicle may have been captured in a photo: A black or dark-colored Volvo S-60 model year 2001-2004.

The suspect vehicle was seen leaving in connection with the fire in Oregon on Monday.

Strengthens security

After the attacks, security around the mailboxes and ballot boxes has been strengthened, according to American police.

In some areas, the urns must be guarded around the clock.

- An attack on a ballot box is an attack on our democracy and completely unacceptable, says LaVonne Griffin-Valade, responsible for the electoral process in Oregon.

Will be allowed to vote again

Exactly how many early voters are affected is unclear, but those who are identified should be contacted about what happened, according to US authorities.

The idea is that those affected will be allowed to vote again.

Smoke comes from a ballot box. Photo: AP