The police disclosed the description of the suspect in the burning of the urn

The search for the suspect in ballot boxes were set on fire in the Pacific Northwest continued Thursday as details emerged about a suspect and a possible motive amid fears that more boxes would be burned.

In Oregon, Portland police spokesman Mike Banner said the suspect is believed to have “extensive metal fabrication and welding experience.” Benner, speaking at a briefing Wednesday, described him as a white man in his 30s to 40s with short hair or balding, a thin to medium build and a thin face.

“It is possible that the suspect plans to continue targeted attacks throughout the area,” Banner warned.

Portland police said they responded fire report at a voting booth in the Buckman area at about 3:30 a.m. Monday. Police in nearby Vancouver, Washington, responded to the ballot box set on fire about 30 minutes later.

Police later released two photos of the vehicle that investigators believe was involved in both fires. Authorities were looking for a black or dark-colored 2001-2004 Volvo S-60 with no front license plate and an unknown rear license plate.

In Washington, Clark County officials said Wednesday that a failure of the fire suppression system in his box resulted in at least 488 damaged ballots. Voters were sent replacement ballots. Six ballots could not be identified by election staff, and other ballots may have been completely burned to the ground and could not be identified.

According to Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey, authorities have changed pick-up hours and tightened ballot box security.

“I appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience as we work through this unprecedented event,” Kimsey said. “We have taken steps that I hope will increase voter confidence in the use of county ballot boxes.”

In Oregon, Multnomah County Official Tim Scott said three ballots were not damaged by the fire suppression system and that those voters were being contacted.

Vancouver police said Monday’s arson looked like an attempt at the ballot box there on October 8. This device did not explode. Voting in both states is almost entirely by mail and drop boxes.

The FBI said it was coordinating with federal, state and local authorities to investigate the attacks. The FBI declined to comment on whether the attacks would be investigated as domestic terrorism.

Pro-Palestinian According to reports, messages were found on the devices that set fire to the boxes. The New York Times and ABC Newsciting anonymous sources, reports that a message reading “Free Gaza” appeared on devices used in Monday’s arson attackswhich took place within 15 miles of each other in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.

The messages “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” also appeared on a device found Oct. 8 in Vancouver, the Times and ABC reported. It was not immediately known whether the suspect was a pro-Palestinian activist or whether the fires were an attempt to cause confusion ahead of the election, according to media reports citing anonymous sources.

Co-authors: Natalie Naysa Alund and James Powell