Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is accusing ANTIFA anarchists of attempted murder after they barricaded police officers in a police precinct house in Portland on Thursday and then attempted to set fire to the building.
“When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder,” said Wheeler in a joint press conference with Police Chief Chuck Lovell.
According to reports, a driver of a truck also attempted to run police officers over.
The front doors of the Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct Building were barricaded before the fire was started with more than 20 officers and civilian employees inside, police said, according to Fox.
Officers used tear gas to break the rioters up. At least eight people were reported arrested.
A federal court order bars police from using tear gas unless a riot is declared.
“I believe that city staff could have died last night,” Wheeler said. “I cannot and I will not tolerate that. This is not peaceful protests. This is not advocacy to advance reforms,” Fox News reported.
Violence has raged in Portland nightly for two consecutive months.
Several weeks ago, Wheeler joined “protests” in an attempt to show solidarity. He was jeered by the crowd as he tried to rally the rioters.