SUNDAY UPDATE:
An individual was charged on Sunday with starting a fire outside of US Senator Bernie Sanders' office in Vermont. Security video showed 35-year-old Shant Soghomonian, who used to live in Northridge, California, entering the building on Friday and going to Sanders' third-floor office, where he set the door on fire with a liquid, according to officials. The fire and the automatic pumps that put out the fire damaged the inside of the building, but no one was hurt, according to the AP. The time, Sanders, an independent, was not in the building.
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Authorities are currently conducting an investigation into a fire that occurred at the office of US Senator Bernie Sanders, suspecting it to be an act of arson. The incident occurred in the home state of the seasoned politician, Vermont.
According to the Burlington Fire Department, firefighters were alerted on Friday to a fire in the lobby area near the elevator and entrance door. Upon arrival, they found that the sprinkler system had been activated. Fortunately, no one was harmed.
The fire department reported that the door to the Senator's office was moderately damaged by fire, while the third floor and floors below experienced significant water damage.
On Saturday, the police issued a statement revealing that an unidentified male suspect had sprayed a flammable substance, ignited it, and departed from the premises.
According to the police, a fire broke out in the door and vestibule area, making it difficult for staff members to exit the office and putting their lives at risk. At this time, there is no known motive for the incident and authorities have not yet made any arrests. According to the Burlington Fire Marshal's Office, they determined that the fire was intentionally set.
The senator's team assured the media that none of the staff members were injured. "We are grateful that none of our staff members, and as far as we know, no one in the building, was injured," stated Kathryn Van Haste, the state director for Sanders.
Sanders, a left-wing independent, served as the mayor of Burlington in the 1980s and was later elected to Congress in 1987. He has served as a senator since 2007.
Sanders competed for the Democratic Party's nomination in the presidential elections of 2016 and 2020, ultimately being defeated by Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively.
An individual was charged on Sunday with starting a fire outside of US Senator Bernie Sanders' office in Vermont. Security video showed 35-year-old Shant Soghomonian, who used to live in Northridge, California, entering the building on Friday and going to Sanders' third-floor office, where he set the door on fire with a liquid, according to officials. The fire and the automatic pumps that put out the fire damaged the inside of the building, but no one was hurt, according to the AP. The time, Sanders, an independent, was not in the building.
************
Authorities are currently conducting an investigation into a fire that occurred at the office of US Senator Bernie Sanders, suspecting it to be an act of arson. The incident occurred in the home state of the seasoned politician, Vermont.
According to the Burlington Fire Department, firefighters were alerted on Friday to a fire in the lobby area near the elevator and entrance door. Upon arrival, they found that the sprinkler system had been activated. Fortunately, no one was harmed.
The fire department reported that the door to the Senator's office was moderately damaged by fire, while the third floor and floors below experienced significant water damage.
On Saturday, the police issued a statement revealing that an unidentified male suspect had sprayed a flammable substance, ignited it, and departed from the premises.
According to the police, a fire broke out in the door and vestibule area, making it difficult for staff members to exit the office and putting their lives at risk. At this time, there is no known motive for the incident and authorities have not yet made any arrests. According to the Burlington Fire Marshal's Office, they determined that the fire was intentionally set.
The senator's team assured the media that none of the staff members were injured. "We are grateful that none of our staff members, and as far as we know, no one in the building, was injured," stated Kathryn Van Haste, the state director for Sanders.
Sanders, a left-wing independent, served as the mayor of Burlington in the 1980s and was later elected to Congress in 1987. He has served as a senator since 2007.
Sanders competed for the Democratic Party's nomination in the presidential elections of 2016 and 2020, ultimately being defeated by Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively.
