Drop box burning devices in Ore. and Wash. had ‘Free Gaza’ message

Oct 30

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Senior Video Editor), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

Officials said the devices used in the ballot box arson incidents in Oregon and Washington were marked with the words “Free Gaza.” Early Monday, Oct. 28, fire crews responded to two separate ballot box fires in Portland and Vancouver that happened about a half of an hour apart.

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More than 100 ballots were destroyed in Vancouver, while a fire suppressant system in the Portland ballot box saved all but three of the ballots.

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Law enforcement officials said the “Free Gaza” message was not only on the two devices from Monday, but also on a third device found at a ballot box earlier this month in Vancouver. That device also included a “Free Palestine” message.

Now, investigators are working to determine if the suspect is a pro-Palestinian activist or if it’s someone trying to heighten divisions that already exist in the United States.

Police identified the suspect’s vehicle from the Portland incident, which is a dark early 2000s Volvo. They believe the Volvo is tied to the two other incidents in Vancouver as well.

Tags: 2024 Elections, Ballots, Early voting, FBI, Police, Police officers, Portland, Voting

[Lauren Taylor]

THERE’S NEW INFORMATION ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO TWO BALLOT BOX FIRES IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON – THAT AUTHORITIES NOW BELIEVE ARE CONNECTED.

OFFICIALS SAY THE DEVICES USED IN THE ARSONS WERE MARKED WITH THE WORDS “FREE GAZA.”

EARLY MONDAY MORNING … FIRE CREWS RESPONDED TO TWO SEPARATE BALLOT BOX FIRES IN PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER – HAPPENING ABOUT A HALF HOUR APART.

MORE THAN 100 BALLOTS WERE DESTROYED IN VANCOUVER, WHILE A FIRE SUPPRESSANT SYSTEM IN THE PORTLAND BALLOT BOX SAVED ALL BUT THREE OF THE BALLOTS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE “FREE GAZA” MESSAGE WAS NOT ONLY ON THE TWO DEVICES FROM MONDAY, BUT ALSO ON A THIRD DEVICE FOUND AT A BALLOT BOX EARLIER THIS MONTH IN VANCOUVER.

THAT DEVICE ALSO HAD “FREE PALESTINE” ON IT.

NOW, INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT IS A PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST OR IF IT’S SOMEONE TRYING TO HEIGHTEN DIVISIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE U-S.

POLICE DID IDENTIFY THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE FROM THE PORTLAND INCIDENT SEEN HERE.

THEY BELIEVE THE VOLVO IS TIED TO THE OTHER TWO INCIDENTS IN VANCOUVER.

BOTH OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPEND ON MAIL-VOTING SYSTEMS.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT PUT OUT A WARNING ABOUT OF INCENDIARY AND EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS BEING DROPPED INTO BALLOT BOXES.

VANCOUVER OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE INCREASING PATROLS TO 24 HOURS A DAY NEAR BALLOT BOXES.

FOR SAN I’M … LAUREN TAYLOR.

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