Explosion at Portland Athletic Club
In a shocking incident early Saturday morning, a disgruntled former employee drove a car loaded with explosives into an upscale athletic club in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, the man died in the crash, which caused extensive damage estimated at millions of dollars.
The individual, whose identity remains unknown, apparently rented a Nissan Rogue filled with propane tanks and pipe bombs to orchestrate the attack on the Multnomah Athletic Club.
After driving around the Athletic Club, he detonated some bombs, though not all of them went off. The explosion “completely destroyed” the first floor of the facility, as reported by local sources.
Fire crews managed to quell the blaze shortly after 3 a.m., and police have since launched an investigation. The driver was discovered deceased in the vehicle.
According to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit responded to the scene after detecting traces of explosives within the car.
Founded in 1891, the Multnomah Athletic Club announced its closure as authorities continue their investigation. “The MAC will be closed until further notice to allow law enforcement to complete their work and our team to assess the damage,” the club said on its website.
With over 21,000 members, MAC is known to be one of the largest sports clubs in America. Membership fees are quite significant, with individuals paying about $280.11 per month and families around $422.34 per month.
The main clubhouse houses various amenities, including a pool, a tennis court, exercise studio, weight room, and several ballrooms.
General Manager Charles Barton reassured members that no injuries occurred among employees or club members during this crisis.
Authorities have advised club members to steer clear of the area as investigations are underway. The ground floor of the club features a restaurant, lounge, retail, and event space, which offers panoramic views of Providence Park.
This attack comes just weeks after another vehicle incident at the Athletic Club’s entrance on April 8, which resulted in injuries to a security guard.
