Portland police investigate, seek witnesses after possible explosive detonated downtown
Police in Portland, Oregon, are investigating reports that an explosive device was detonated in the downtown area over the weekend, authorities said Monday.
The Portland Police Bureau said in a statement that there are reports that someone threw an explosive device on Saturday, possibly in the area of Southwest 4th Avenue and Main Street. No one reported this incident to police, but video shared on social media captured a loud bang and what appears to be residual smoke on the street.
"They just threw a bomb," a woman who was livestreaming as the incident occurred said in the video.
The Twitter user also shared photos of what she described as a "pipe bomb" and suggested a black GMC may have been involved, although this has not been verified by authorities. Police Chief Chuck Lovell said on Twitter that investigators are trying to determine what happened.
"PPB Investigators are actively looking into this case," he said on Twitter. "If anyone has a first-hand account about what happened or picked up evidence please contact us."
Protests are ongoing: Riot declared, dozens arrested and officers injured in Portland, Seattle, ChicagoPolice said they are "very interested" in speaking with the person in the video and any other eye witnesses to the event.
The incident occurred hours before a riot was declared in Oregon’s biggest city as protesters demonstrated outside a law enforcement building early Sunday, continuing a nightly ritual in Portland. Demonstrations, often violent, have been ongoing for more than two months following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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