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| Smoke and flash bangs: WATCH protesters scatter in PANIC in Seattle after ignoring police orders | Smoke and flash bangs: WATCH protesters scatter in PANIC in Seattle after ignoring police orders |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Officers in Seattle, Washington used stun grenades to disperse a crowd of protesters after repeatedly warning them to stop moving a barricade towards the police line. There were unconfirmed reports of tear gas use as well. | Officers in Seattle, Washington used stun grenades to disperse a crowd of protesters after repeatedly warning them to stop moving a barricade towards the police line. There were unconfirmed reports of tear gas use as well. |
| Videos from a rally on Pike Avenue and 11th Street show explosions and smoke scattering the protesters around 8 pm local time, along with what some claimed was tear gas. | Videos from a rally on Pike Avenue and 11th Street show explosions and smoke scattering the protesters around 8 pm local time, along with what some claimed was tear gas. |
| Police had previously put on gas masks, according to Simone Del Rosario, a reporter with the local TV station KCPQ. She described “what feels like a little tear gas” but later said was pepper spray. | Police had previously put on gas masks, according to Simone Del Rosario, a reporter with the local TV station KCPQ. She described “what feels like a little tear gas” but later said was pepper spray. |
| “They keep saying they are committed to maintaining a peaceful protest. It feels less likely that it’ll end that way right now,” Del Rosario tweeted shortly before the explosions. | “They keep saying they are committed to maintaining a peaceful protest. It feels less likely that it’ll end that way right now,” Del Rosario tweeted shortly before the explosions. |
| Another reporter on the scene, Juan Vega de Soto, confirmed the presence of gas masks and noted that protesters had pushed the barrier almost ten meters towards the police line. | Another reporter on the scene, Juan Vega de Soto, confirmed the presence of gas masks and noted that protesters had pushed the barrier almost ten meters towards the police line. |
| De Soto did not mention teargas, however, only that flashbangs were used to disperse the crowd. | De Soto did not mention teargas, however, only that flashbangs were used to disperse the crowd. |
| Chase Burns from the Stranger also captured the moment of the confrontation. | Chase Burns from the Stranger also captured the moment of the confrontation. |
| Police Chief Carmen Best later told reporters no CS teargas was used, only OC pepper spray. | |
| Seattle PD said that individuals from the crowd threw "rocks/bottles/and explosives at officers," injuring several. They posted a photo of what they said was an improvised explosive device. | Seattle PD said that individuals from the crowd threw "rocks/bottles/and explosives at officers," injuring several. They posted a photo of what they said was an improvised explosive device. |
| Most of the responses claimed the photo showed an ordinary candle in a glass jar, but others pointed out that normal candle wax does not look that powdery. | Most of the responses claimed the photo showed an ordinary candle in a glass jar, but others pointed out that normal candle wax does not look that powdery. |
| Earlier on Saturday, Chief Best announced the city would suspend the use of tear gas for 30 days, after concerns were raised over its deployment against protesters. | |
| Mayor Jenny Durkan, a Democrat, said there would also be a review of crowd control techniques involving “accountability partners” to “better emphasize de-escalation tactics.” | |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |