Violent end to 2020 in Portland as riot is declared
Violent end to 2020 in Portland as riot is declared with protesters smashing windows and throwing firebombs at cops who respond with tear gas
A riot was declared in Portland at around 11 p.m. on New Years Eve as protesters smashed windows and threw firebombs at cops who responded by firing tear gas.
A group, estimated to be of around 100 people, started gathering at around 9 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland, according to local news reports.
Crews from Fox 12Â said they witnessed fireworks being shot at the building, with police later confirming this.
‘A gathering in downtown Portland has devolved into a riot,’Â Portland Police tweeted at 11:37 p.m. local time.
‘Participants have thrown multiple firebombs at officers and launched commercial grade fireworks at the Federal Courthouse and Justice Center.’
Footage from the scene showed police moving in to break up the gathering as fireworks were thrown in their direction.Â
Pictured: A still image from a CBS6 news report showing a large group of people gathering outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland
Police first declared the gathering an unlawful assembly at around 10:30 p.m. before declaring it a riot soon after.
According to the network, as of 11 p.m. there had been no confirmation of any damage, or of a motive behind the protests.
The declaration came just one hour before Portland and the rest of the West Coast rung in the New Year.
More to follow…Â
