A suspect is being sought in a suspected arson attack at Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Burlington office, police said.
The fire was reported at 10:45 a.m. ET Friday in the vestibule between the elevator and the front door of Sanders’ office, located on the third floor of 1 Church St., authorities said.
Authorities respond to an arson attack at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office in Burlington, Vermont on April 5, 2024.
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A man entered the foyer and “sprayed an apparent accelerant” on the senator’s office door, turned on the accelerant and then fled, according to the Burlington Police Department.
A “large fire destroyed the door and part of the vestibule, preventing the exit of staff members who worked in the office and putting their lives in danger,” Burlington police said in a press release.
The sprinkler system largely extinguished the fire, which caused “moderate” damage to the senator’s office door, police said. The third floor and lower floors suffered “significant” water damage, police said.
No injuries were reported and Sanders was not present at the time, police said.
“The Burlington Fire Marshal’s Office has deemed this fire to be incendiary in nature,” the Burlington Fire Department said in a news release.
The Burlington Police Department has released a photo of a suspect wanted in connection with an arson attack at Sen. Bernard Sanders’ office.
Burlington Police Department
A male suspect is being sought in the incident, Burlington police said while releasing surveillance footage of the unknown individual.
The motive is currently unknown, police said. Vermont State Police and Burlington Police are conducting a joint investigation.
Senator Bernie Sanders gestures during a speech on reducing health care costs at the White House complex in Washington, DC, April 3, 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Kathryn Van Haste, Sanders’ Vermont state director, said the office was “grateful” to the police and firefighters who responded.
“We are relieved that none of our staff and, to our knowledge, no one in the building was injured,” Van Haste said in a statement.
The U.S. Capitol Police and Senate sergeant-at-arms are working “in coordination” with local first responders, she said.
ABC News’ Matt Foster contributed to this report.
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