A “large fire” was started near a police precinct in Portland on Sunday night as demonstrations against racial injustice continued in the city, officials said.
Police said crowd members chanted “burn it down” after showing up at the North Precinct Community Policing Center after 9 p.m. and lit a mattress on fire.
“Because it was not an immediate threat to life safety or structures, officers remained far back and did not engage,” reads a report on the Portland Police website. “Another mattress was added to the fire, as was some yard debris. The larger fire began to send lit embers into the air.”
The fire was ultimately put out by Portland Fire and Rescue authorities. A burn ban is in place in Multnomah County, which Portland is part of, as a result of dry conditions.
“North Precinct has been the site of numerous violent protests over the past few months, including instances where arsonists attempted to burn down the building with people inside,” police said.
Portland Police arrested 15 people Sunday night into Monday morning. It marked the 101st day of protests in Portland following the death of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, in police custody on May 25 in Minneapolis.
On Saturday, more than 50 people were arrested by police in the Oregon city during a night in which officials said “fire bombs” and other items were thrown at officers.
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