Molotov cocktail set off at World Trade Center building in downtown Portland, police suspect Occupy Portland protesters involved
Published: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 10:45 PM Updated: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 11:29 PM
By Kate Mather, The Oregonian
Police said a Molotov cocktail was set off in an exterior stairwell at the World Trade Center in downtown Portland tonight, and they believe protesters at Occupy Portland might be responsible.
Someone called 9-1-1 to report the incident about 9:10 p.m., said Lt. Robert King, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. No one was hurt, but a fire caused some damage to the stairs, which are between two escalators.
"We're very fortunate that a larger fire didn't occur. These devices are completely unpredictable and destructive — we're very fortunate that no one was injured," King said.
Police have been investigating reports since Oct. 31 that a person or group of people at the downtown Occupy Portland encampment has been making or storing Molotov cocktails, King said. Detectives didn't release the information to protect their investigation.
But preliminary information received tonight suggested there was a link between the camp and the makeshift bomb thrown at the World Trade Center, King said.
Portland police Chief Mike Reese has been notified, and King said Reese was going to inform Mayor Sam Adams of the incident.
"Molotov cocktails just present this really clear danger to anybody and everybody," King said. "We're obviously taking this very seriously."
Meanwhile in Seattle:
Bank of America building in Seattle set on fire
by TOM KIM / KING 5 News
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 3:51 AM
Updated today at 4:30 AM
SEATTLE -- Seattle police and fire investigators are looking into a suspicious fire at a Bank of America building.
It happened around 2:00 A.M. in the 4100 block of East Madison Street. Officers responding to a bank alarm found an outdoor ATM on fire. Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore said the flames then spread
into the bank itself. Moore said the bank was locked up and that the windows had to be broken to gain access.
The fire did not spread to any other surrounding buildings. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-Bank-of-America-building-set-on-fire-133520443.html
On Thursday the 3rd Occupy Seattle welcomed Jamie Dimon the CEO of JP Morgan Chase to our fair city.
The coincidences just keep piling up...