Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/File
Sen. Bernie Sanders at the Dirksen Senate Office Building at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 14.
CNN
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Police are searching for a man who allegedly set fire to independent Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office on Friday.
The Burlington Police Department released the photo Friday night and asked the public to help identify the suspect. Police have not yet determined a motive.
According to police, no one was injured, but there was damage caused by a fire that was set on the door of an office on the third floor. Police said in a news release that water from the sprinkler system caused “significant damage to that space and other areas of the building” and the fire was nearly extinguished.
The suspect “entered the front door” of the office and “sprayed what appeared to be an accelerant on the entrance door,” the statement said.
“He then ignited the gas pedal and fled,” the release states. “The massive fire consumed part of the door and entrance, preventing staff working in the office from leaving and putting their lives at risk.”
Police said first responders arrived at the scene at Sanders’ office around 10:45 a.m. local time.
The Burlington Fire Marshal’s Office said early Friday that the fire was “considered to be incendiary in nature” and that Vermont State Police and Burlington Police would handle further investigation.
Kathryn Van Heist, Sanders’ Vermont state director, said the U.S. Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms are also “working in coordination with local first responders.”
“We are relieved that no staff members were harmed and, as we understand, no one who was in the building was harmed,” Van Heist said in a statement.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
