Arson attack suspected at Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office

Arson is suspected after a small blaze caused minor damages but no injuries at the Vermont office of Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.

The fire is thought to have been started outside the office in Burlington on Friday. Authorities have said that a man sprayed would they said was a possible accelerant on the door of the office and set it ablaze before fleeing the scene. They added that the suspect has not been detained and no motive has yet been established.

“A significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, impeding the egress of staff members who were working in the office and endangering their lives,” Burlington police said in a statement. “The sprinkler system then engaged and largely extinguished the fire.”

Mr Sanders was not at the office at the time of the incident, he was rallying with striking hotel workers in Los Angeles.

Earlier on Friday, the Burlington Fire Department said it had responded to a morning call, finding a fire between the vestibule, the elevator, and the entrance door to Mr Sanders’s office on the third floor of the building.

Burlington Police released an image of the suspect, wearing an orange beanie, white sneakers, a black jacket and dark pants.

The door was moderately damaged, and large parts of the building suffered water damage. Both the offices of Mr Sanders and other offices nearby were evacuated.

Firefighters were called to the scene at about 10.45am on Friday. The building’s sprinkler system had put out most of the fire by the time of their arrival.

Vermont State Police has found that the fire was caused by arson.

“We are grateful to the Burlington Fire and Police Departments who responded immediately today to a fire incident that took place in our office building,” Vermont State Director for Mr Sanders Kathryn Van Haste said in a statement.

“We are relieved that no one on our staff and, to our understanding, no one in the building was harmed,” she added. “Thank you as well to the Vermont State Police for their assistance and the efforts of the US Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms, who are working in coordination with local first responders.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report