CNN
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Police are in search of a person who they are saying lit a hearth at independent Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont workplace Friday.
The Burlington Police Division launched pictures Friday night asking the general public to assist determine the suspect. Police haven’t but recognized a motive.
There have been no recognized accidents, police mentioned, although there was injury from the fireplace set to the door of the third-floor workplace. There was additionally “vital injury to that area and different areas of the constructing” as a consequence of water from the sprinkler system, which largely extinguished the fireplace, police mentioned in a information launch.
The suspect “entered the vestibule” of the workplace and “sprayed an obvious accelerant on the doorway door,” in response to the discharge.
“He then lit the accelerant and fled,” the discharge mentioned. “A big hearth engulfed the door and a part of the vestibule, impeding the egress of workers members who have been working within the workplace and endangering their lives.”
First responders arrived on the scene at Sanders’ workplace at roughly 10:45 a.m. native time, in response to police.
The Burlington hearth marshal’s workplace earlier Friday mentioned it “deemed this fireplace incendiary in nature” and that the investigation might be now be dealt with by the Vermont State Police and the Burlington Police Division.
The US Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms are additionally “working in coordination with native first responders,” in response to Sanders’ Vermont state director Kathryn Van Haste.
“We’re relieved that nobody on our workers and, to our understanding, nobody within the constructing was harmed,” Van Haste mentioned in a press release.
This story has been up to date with extra developments.
CNN’s Ted Barrett contributed to this report.