Anti-Israel agitators took over the campus library at Portland State University on Thursday, injuring seven police officers and arresting at least 30 people, according to Portland police.
The ministry said the arrests were the second time the agitators had illegally entered Miller Library, despite efforts by authorities to ensure safety after first clearing the library at 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. It was announced that this was caused by the
The operation began at 6 a.m., with officers from all three Portland precincts establishing a perimeter around the library and beginning to tell the occupiers to leave. Police said after “numerous announcements” were unsuccessful, officers moved into the building and began a “planned, methodical and safety-oriented clearing operation” from the top floor.
The department said police found barricades, vandalism and items “intended for possible assault” on officers working to clear the building on the floor, but encountered no resistance from the agitators. .
Wild video shows Portland anti-Israel agitator being tackled to the ground by police.
Portland police arrested at least 30 anti-Israel agitators Thursday for occupying the Portland State University library twice within hours. (Portland Police Department)
When officers arrived on the first floor, they found a “heavily barricaded door” that required the strength of several people to open, the department said. The floor behind the door was “covered in paint and soap or other slippery substances.”
Four people were arrested, including one who used a fire extinguisher on the officer and another who tried to hit the officer with an improvised shield. Portland police said the remaining occupants fled the area after being repeatedly warned that they would be arrested for trespassing.
Portland police said in a statement that a “hostile crowd surrounded the van” while the arrestees were being transferred to an escort van, and that the Oregon State Police Mobile Response Team was requested to assist in evacuating the scene. ” was necessary, he added.
Portland police said a “hostile crowd” of anti-Israel agitators arrested several people on the campus of Portland State University and then followed a convoy van to the interstate. (John Rudoff/AFP via Getty Images)
The crowd followed the van onto Interstate 405, and some protesters entered the freeway, leading to additional arrests.
Some officers carried “40mm less-lethal launchers with orange shoulder straps,” but only pepper spray was used to control the situation.
The department said: “These tools are standard equipment and are issued to patrol officers who are trained and qualified to use them. Their use is regulated by PPB’s use of force policy, but ammunition is still not deployed. It was not done.”
Portland State University president says anti-Israel protesters cause ‘property damage’ and calls for police assistance
After the library was cleared on Thursday morning, the university tried to secure it with plywood and fencing, but police returned to campus after the agitators vandalized the library and re-entered the building.
Police responded to the Portland State University Library for the second time on Thursday after anti-Israel agitators destroyed plywood and fences installed by the university in an attempt to reoccupy the building. (John Rudoff/AFP via Getty Images)
Seven additional people were arrested by Portland police and one person was arrested by PSU Campus Safety.
“It’s important to remember that when tensions are high, arrests may not always be made at the scene, but that doesn’t mean people won’t be charged with a crime later,” Portland police said in a statement. , added that the case will be referred to the Multnomah Police Department. The county district attorney in charge of the prosecution.
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At the end of the day, Portland police announced that seven officers were injured during operations on campus, the most serious being a knee injury that required transport to the hospital.
The remaining six officers either suffered minor injuries or were still being evaluated at the time of the statement Friday morning.
