'Incendiary device' sparks fire at Portland, Oregon ballot box

An "incendiary device" placed wrong a ballot container sparked a occurrence early Monday successful Portland, Oregon, constabulary say. 

The Portland Police Bureau said officers responded "to reports of a occurrence astatine a ballot container successful nan 1000 artifact of Southeast Morrison Street" astir 3:30 a.m. section time. 

"By nan clip officers arrived, nan occurrence had already been extinguished by information unit who activity successful nan area. Officers wished an incendiary instrumentality was placed wrong nan ballot box and utilized to ignite nan fire," constabulary said successful a statement. "PPB’s Explosive Disposal Unit responded to nan segment and cleared nan device." 

It is unclear if immoderate ballots were damaged successful nan fire. A detective investigating nan lawsuit did not instantly respond Monday to a petition for remark from Fox News Digital. 

ARIZONA ELECTION BALLOTS DAMAGED AFTER USPS MAILBOX LIT ON FIRE, SUSPECT ARRESTED 

A ballot container is seen damaged successful Portland, Oregon, connected Monday, Oct. 28 pursuing a fire, constabulary say. (Portland Police Bureau)

"The Portland Fire Investigations Unit besides responded to nan segment to investigate. This portion is comprised of occurrence investigators pinch Portland Fire & Rescue, who are sworn rule enforcement officers, and a detective pinch nan Portland Police Bureau," constabulary added. "The collaboration leverages nan specialized training and skills needed to analyse fires, including study instrumentality and accelerant detecting dogs." 

Police are describing nan incident arsenic an "arson case." 

MILLIONS OF VOTERS HAVE ALREADY CAST BALLOTS FOR NOV. 5 ELECTION 

Voters formed their ballots astatine charismatic ballot boxes connected Nov. 8 2022 successful Portland, Oregon. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images)

It happened conscionable days aft astir 20 mail-in ballots were damaged erstwhile a U.S. Postal Service mailbox was lit connected occurrence in Phoenix.

Dieter Klofkorn, 35, has since been arrested connected 1 felony count of Arson to Property. 

"Klofkorn stated that he committed nan arson because he wanted to beryllium arrested and that his actions were not politically motivated and not related to thing involving nan upcoming election," nan Phoenix Police Department said successful a connection describing nan incident past Thursday. 

Dieter Klofkorn has been arrested aft galore ballots were burned during a mailbox occurrence successful Phoenix, officials say. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office/Fox10 Phoenix)

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Images taken from nan segment of that incident showed a charred mailbox extracurricular a U.S. Post Office successful Arizona’s superior city.