An arson fire that damaged vehicles parked at the administration building of Portland Public Schools is under investigation. Antifa graffiti was found at the scene after months of threats against schools being posted from social media accounts affiliated with the group. One post even included a picture of the aftermath of the arson.
The Portland Public Schools (@PPSConnect) headquarters was severely damaged in an arson attack. One of the graffiti messages repeats a BLM-Antifa mantra. An anarchist symbol was also sprayed on the building. #antifa https://t.co/pRopL21pxC pic.twitter.com/SWodyfbTGl
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) March 7, 2021
Early Saturday morning The Portland Public School (PPS) headquarters was severely damaged in an arson attack. Some of the graffiti messages at the site of the fire repeat BLM and Antifa messaging and an anarchist symbol was also sprayed on the building.
It looks likely the large arson attack on Portland Public Schools (@PPSConnect) may be antifa-connected. #Antifa groups had called for terrorist attacks on Saturday, & schools in particular had been explicitly stated as targets for months. https://t.co/iY0fVHlNjP pic.twitter.com/UgRZT9kTSr
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) March 7, 2021
According to Post Millennial editor-at-large Andy Ngo, Antifa groups called for terrorist attacks on Saturday, March 6, and have been calling for attacks on schools for months. Ngo posted on Twitter social media activity of various Antifa groups specifically targeting schools.
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) released a statement which said, on Saturday, March 6 at 3:15AM "Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R) responded to a fire alarm at the Portland Public School (PPS) Administration Building at 501 North Dixon Street. They encountered three PPS vehicles on fire in a parking garage. Two were cargo vans and one was a large box truck. They extinguished the flames."
PPB has reported that the fire was “determined to be suspicious in nature” and there is an investigation by PF&R underway. Preliminary information is that the suspect or suspects gained entry to a fenced area on the property, started the fires, and vandalized the building.
No one was injured and no arrests have been made. There is an ongoing a joint investigation between PPB and PF&R. If anyone has information about this case, please contact Detective Meredith Hopper at Meredith.Hopper@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-3408. Please reference case number 21-60173.
