Police interrupted a “possible arson attempt” at a Starbucks on the ground floor of an apartment building in Portland. Protesters then threatened to spit at responding officers and vowed more violence to come on election night.
According to police, a group of some 100 protesters smashed up windows at the Portland State University, breaking windows to the Public Safety Office reception area before attacking several other buildings on campus and finally turning their attention to a Starbucks on the ground floor of an apartment building.
Officers from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police Bureau, and Oregon State Police declared a riot and cleared the area, interrupting what they described as a “possible arson attempt.”
…Individuals smashed windows and poured flammable liquid inside the business. Officers interrupted a potential arson. This gathering is still declared an unlawful assembly due to criminal activity occurring. Disperse to the south and west. pic.twitter.com/NSsjOETtbZ
Responding officers discovered flammable liquid spread throughout the cafe, which was graffitied with ‘BLM’ and ‘ACAB,’ and made at least two arrests. During their operations, they seized a tire iron, dumbbell, body armor, gas masks, and umbrella.
Antifa/BLM rioters broke into Starbucks. They poured gasoline but were unable to light it up.#PortlandRiots#AntifaTerroristspic.twitter.com/UJe8qeq5VT
I think a Portland Police Officer tells the streamer in this clip that too. There seems to be apartments above the Starbucks.(BehindEnemyLines Twitch) https://t.co/l4qwoxpHODpic.twitter.com/BJgCcpg8kw
Eyewitness footage shared online purports to show a group of irate protesters confronting police officers and threatening to spit in their faces.
“I’ll spit on you right now bitch.”Um… pandemic though, riot?#PortlandRiotspic.twitter.com/HFMd3dUV9Q
Elsewhere, footage of purported protesters appears to show one of the group promising more violence to come on Tuesday night.
“You’re gonna get a good show tomorrow.”Antifa/BLM rioters shut down journalists from Europe.”Film the cops. Don’t film the protestors.”#portlandriots#AntifaTerroristspic.twitter.com/9iUOKouRuR
The violence comes on the eve of the US presidential election, as businesses have been boarding up their windows across the country in recent days in anticipation of widespread post-election street violence, regardless of the outcome.
On Monday, Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order granting state authorities jurisdiction in Portland, effectively overruling a recent ban on the use of tear gas, while also putting National Guard forces on standby.
Meanwhile, federal officers have been issued a court order to operate only within a one-block radius of the Federal Courthouse in Portland.
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