Threat to Emergency Helicopter Operations in Portland
An emergency helicopter from a trauma center in Portland had to change its route, leading to longer travel times, after threats emerged from local anarchists about aiming lasers at the aircraft. This act is a federal crime.
Oregon Health & Science University reported that a number of air ambulance services decided against landing at the hospital’s helipad on Saturday night due to the anticipated threat. This decision meant that emergency helicopters could add as much as 45 to 60 minutes to their travel time because air operations were called into question.
“If enough lasers are pointed at an aircraft, it could become unstable, making it hard for law enforcement to pinpoint where the threat is coming from,” OHSU stated, underlining the potential risks involved.
On its website, Rose City Counter-Info, an anonymous anarchist blog based in Portland, shared a flyer that read: “We invite you to play laser tag!” It further criticized the regular presence of helicopter sounds attributed to government surveillance.
The flyer suggested participants to “wear masks,” go to a public area, and direct lasers at helicopters at 9 p.m. on Saturday.
The bold message from the flyer claimed, “It doesn’t take many people to land a helicopter!” The site has also provided advice on how to evade law enforcement while participating in such dangerous actions.
This activity caught the attention of the Portland Police Bureau, which later announced that although there were no reported laser incidents that evening, one suspect had been arrested earlier in the week.
The Department of Homeland Security has expressed a commitment to confronting “Antifa domestic terrorists,” asserting they will dismantle their networks.
In a related note, the website behind the flyer has attempted to expose Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, posting photos along with their alleged home addresses. One post from the blog urged citizens to take action and “name and shame” officials involved.
