Twelve officers injured as riots return to Seattle

Twelve police officers were injured, and two rioters were arrested as Seattle faced a resurgence of civil unrest yesterday. Storefronts for Amazon and Walgreens were smashed, among others, and buildings were vandalized and damaged as rioting and looting returned to Seattle.

On Sunday afternoon, a large, well prepared, group of rioters some carrying baseball bats and other large projectiles, assembled in downtown Seattle and threw rocks, bottles, and firecrackers at police.

According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), "A peaceful protest began in Westlake Park at 10:30 a.m. this morning.  About three hours later, a second group showed up, carrying baseball bats.  The group began marching southbound on Fifth Avenue.  During the march, individuals within the group broke windows and tagged buildings with paint.  The group headed south to the Seattle Police Headquarters and Seattle Municipal Court where they broke windows and spray painted both buildings.  The demonstration then marched northbound on Third Avenue, where some businesses were targeted by individuals with more smashed windows, looting, and graffiti on the walls." Many of these businesses are still struggling from Coronavirus shutdowns.

The rioters targeted the Seattle Municipal Courthouse as well as the SPD West Precinct. The West Precinct has been a frequent site for activists during the last six weeks of protests. Several rioters were arrested during the attack on the West Precinct.

The SPD blotter details the attack on the West Precinct. "An unknown person or persons threw multiple large mortar-type fireworks at officers from a close range.  Multiple officers were injured by the fireworks thrown at them.  Two of the officers suffered lacerations and abrasion injuries while a third officer sustained burns to his neck area and needed to be treated by the Seattle Fire Department.  He was later transported to the hospital.  A total of twelve officers were injured."

The violent group then continue to the East Precinct, the precinct which had been abandoned by Seattle Officials and became the center point for the Seattle autonomous occupied zone. Looters smashed the windows of a Starbucks and attempted to set it on fire. This Starbucks is part of an apartment complex.

The windows of the East Precinct were smashed to allow entry of an incendiary device. The East Precinct had previously been abandoned by SPD when overtaken by rioters, and then retaken by SPD after homicides were reported in the occupied zone.

The Incident Commander from SPD said, "individuals within this group appeared to be very organized and this appeared to be a very concerted effort at property damage of certain businesses and government facilities."

Anyone who was filming, either via cell phone or media crew, was discouraged from doing so.

The group continued to Cal Anderson Park, only recently liberated from siege, where rioters eventually dispersed.

Rioters in Seattle are fighting in solidarity with those in Portland, Ore., and the two groups, through social media, are intending to share supplies and resources.