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Seattle Police are investigating the burning of three Seattle police cars and a mobile precinct truck damaged in an arson at the city's downtown maintenance yard.
Police say employees noticed a suspicious man in the fenced yard just before the vehicles erupted in flames just before 5 a.m. Thursday. The man ran off.
Police told KIRO Radio Thursday morning the fires didn't appear to be related to an organized police brutality protest, 14th annual National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, in downtown Seattle Thursday afternoon.
However, the SeattlePI.com reports the arson suspect may have left protest fliers referring to a case involving a King County sheriff's deputy accused of beating a teenage girl in a holding cell last year.
People in the area reported hearing explosions and seeing flames 20-to-30 feet in the air.
Firefighters quickly controlled the fire. Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said there were no injuries.
Police are reportedly looking for a man who was seen in the area with a backpack. The city yard is near the interchange of Interstate 5 and I-90, at 714 S. Charles St.
Police spokesman Mark Jamieson says in 2007 several vehicles were set afire in the same lot.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 or the Seattle Police Arson/Bomb Squad at 206-684-8980
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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