Hundreds of early ballots for the US presidential election were burned in suspected attacks in Washington and Oregon, raising tensions ahead of next week's vote.
Fires at ballot drop boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, are believed to be connected, with authorities identifying a vehicle involved.
In Vancouver, firefighters responded to smoke coming from a drop box, finding hundreds of ballots burning. The elections auditor urged voters who cast ballots there after 11am to request new ones.
Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez condemned the attacks, calling for law enforcement protection at all drop boxes until Election Day.
A similar incident occurred in Portland, where an incendiary device was set off inside a drop box near the Multnomah County elections office. Security staff extinguished the fire before police arrived.
The US Department of Homeland Security had warned of potential attacks on ballot drop boxes in a September memo, citing their vulnerability as "soft targets."
These incidents follow the burning of a mailbox containing ballots in Phoenix, Arizona, last week. A 35-year-old man was arrested and admitted to the crime, claiming it was not politically motivated.
Far-right groups supporting Donald Trump have been monitoring drop boxes, raising concerns about potential disruptions and challenges to the vote count next week.
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