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The Jerusalem Post

Man arrested after setting US Sen. Bernie Sanders' office door in Vermont ablaze

 
 U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) listens during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee hearing titled “Standing Up Against Corporate Greed: How Unions are Improving the Lives of Working Families” on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023.  (photo credit:  REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) listens during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee hearing titled “Standing Up Against Corporate Greed: How Unions are Improving the Lives of Working Families” on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)

The arsonist was recorded by security cameras spraying a liquid near the door and setting it alight, the US attorney's office said.

A man was arrested on Sunday on a charge of starting a fire outside the office of Senator Bernie Sanders in Burlington, Vermont, according to the US attorney's office for the state.

Shant Soghomonian, 35, entered the building in downtown Burlington on Friday and headed to Sanders' office on the third floor. He was recorded by security cameras spraying a liquid near the door and setting it alight, the US attorney's office said.

 Church Street in Burlington, Vermont (illustrative). (credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Church Street in Burlington, Vermont (illustrative). (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

No injuries were reported in the fire

Sprinklers went off on multiple floors as Soghomonian departed via a staircase. There were several people inside the office but no one was injured, although the door and surrounding areas were damaged by the fire, the US attorney's office said.

It was not immediately clear whether Soghomonian had a lawyer and could not be reached for comment.

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Sanders is a long-serving independent in the US Senate representing the northeastern state of Vermont, although in 2016 and 2020, he unsuccessfully sought to become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee.

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