Rioters in Atlanta set off fireworks and threw rocks at the Atlanta Police Foundation on Saturday night, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
The incident comes after an activist, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, 26, was killed by police after he allegedly refused demands from authorities on Wednesday and allegedly fired a gun at state police officers at the Training Center in Public Safety in Atlanta.
“An individual, without warning, shot and killed a Georgia State Patrol trooper,” Michael Register told reporters earlier this week with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “Other law enforcement officers returned fire in self-defense and evacuated the soldier to a safe area.” The person who fired at law enforcement and shot the soldier was killed in the exchange of gunfire.”
Teran was an activist working against the development of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and his fellow activists vowed to protest the facility and the police after his death.
A crashed Atlanta Police Department SUV during violent protests on Saturday, January 21. (Billy Heath/Fox 5)
The protest began peacefully on Saturday before spiraling into chaos, according to FOX 5.
ATLANTA: PROTESTERS CALL FOR ‘VIOLENCE’ AGAINST POLICE AFTER SHOOTING LEAVES 1 DEAD, OFFICER WOUNDED
“While the state continues to respect peaceful protest, acts of violence against people or property will not be tolerated. Those who commit such illegal acts will be arrested and fully prosecuted,” Gov. Brian Kemp said Saturday.
Burning police cars in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, January 21. (Billy Heath/Fox 5)
Photos show activists setting fire to an Atlanta police vehicle, in addition to the Atlanta Police Foundation building.
“Atlanta Police officers responded to a group damaging property at several locations along Peachtree [Street]Atlanta police said in a statement Saturday, according to Fox 5. Several arrests have now been made and order has been restored downtown. This is still an active and ongoing investigation and we will not be able to provide details on the number of arrests or damaged property at this time.”
Atlanta police SUV on fire. (Billy Heath/Fox 5)
In recent days, activists have been camped out at a planned 85-acre facility known as “Cop City” to protest the planned training center. When Teran was shot and killed after authorities tried to remove protesters from the plot on Wednesday, they vowed to continue their protests.
STATE TROOPER SHOT BY PROTESTER IN ‘COPE CITY’ NEAR ATLANTA
A total of seven people were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism on Wednesday.
The Twitter account “Atlanta Forest Scenes” called for a “Night of Rage” to carry out “reciprocal violence to be carried out against the police and their allies,” according to a post.
Atlanta police worked urgently to clear the streets of protesters on Saturday, January 21. (Billy Heath/Fox 5)
“Consider this a call for reciprocal violence against the police and their allies. On Friday, January 20, wherever you are, you are invited to participate in a night of rage to honor the memory of our fallen comrade,” the group wrote on Twitter, in apparent violation of the platform’s terms and conditions.
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This is breaking news and will be updated.
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