‘Lots of blood loss’: Chaotic scenes erupt as police shoot at protesters
Striking footage has emerged of Seattle police launching tear gas and rubber bullets at journalists and protesters at a Black Lives Matter rally.
Photos taken by Reuters show officers hurling gas canisters at demonstrators gathered in the streets at 8pm on Sunday (local time) for one of the many anti-racism protests taking place across the US in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis two weeks ago.
People at the scene took to Twitter to report seeing journalists being bombarded with rubber bullets.
“A member of the independent media was just knocked out by a flash bang industries after police, unprovoked, shot a protestor from 50 feet away,” Bryan Lawrence, a former campaign photographer for Bernie Sanders, wrote online.
Another man tweeted the reporter was “hit in the chest” and had “lots of blood loss”.
Others report seeing police officers purposely target members of the press.
‘Reckless, unprovoked violence from rioting cops to deter press from documenting their actions,” one person said, claiming that police had fired a flash bang at a man with a camera.
The turmoil comes just hours after a man drove until a crowd of protesters at a peaceful protest in Capitol Hill near the city’s police station.
He then exited the vehicle brandishing a pistol and shot a 27-year-old man. The man’s since been arrested.
The victim, a 27-year-old male, was taken to a hospital in stable condition, the Seattle Fire Department said.
Seattle Police Department tweeted the crowd was “throwing bottles, rocks, fireworks, and other projectiles at officers” from about 5.10pm on Sunday (local time).
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@SeattlePD is firing rubber bullets and noxious gases at the citizens they swore to serve. And after @MayorJenny promised a moratorium on tear gas.
Reporter hit with flash bang in the chest. Lots of blood loss. #seattleprotest #BlackLivesMatter— Anjay Ajodha (@anjayajodha) June 8, 2020
“The crowd is shining green lasers into officers' eyes,” police tweeted.
“Officers are responding with OC Spray and blast balls.”
Police later added tear gas was authorised for use and advised people to leave the area.
More gas was released by cops about 12.40am, Seattle Times reported.
A member of the independent media was just knocked out by a flash bang industries after police, unprovoked, shot a protestor from 50 feet away. pic.twitter.com/AN9Qa0JrVm
— Bryan Lawrence (@BreatheNewWinds) June 8, 2020
It comes after Seattle City Council members sharply criticised Mayor Jenny Durkan for police action taken on Saturday night.
Police claimed on Saturday night, at a similar protest, people threw rocks and bottles at them in Capitol Hill.
with The Associated Press and Reuters
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