© TwitterVideo captured what appears to be an explosive device being detonated at a Portland Courthouse
A "Molotov cocktail, or similar destructive device" was hurled at a federal building in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Oregon's largest city. Violent protests have plagued the city of Portland since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
A Deputy US Marshal, who requested to remain anonymous and has been working outside the courthouse for weeks, called his surroundings "scary."
"You open those doors out, when the crowd is shaking the fence, and - on the other side of that fence are people that want to kill you because of the job we chose to do and what we represent," he explained.
"I can't walk outside without being in fear for my life. I am worried for my life, every time I walk outside of the building."
'Mostly peaceful protesters' in front of the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in downtown Portland
© Getty ImagesProtesters were equipped with shields in Portland, Oregon
- Attorney General William Barr backed federal agent, who he said are battling "a mob of hundreds of rioters" in Oregon
- Cops tear gassed demonstrators in Portland and Arizona after a Black Lives Matter protester was shot dead in Texas
- Portland Prosecutors seized an arsenal of deadly homemade weapons to be used against federal agents at the protests
- Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler accused President Donald Trump of using "unidentified agents" for "political purposes"
- Trump sent 100 more federal agents to Portland to combat the ongoing violence
© Donald Trump/TwitterJuly 27, 2020, Trump slammed the 'Fake News Media' on Twitter once again
"And I look out on the street and it looks like downtown Baghdad."
Dozens of federal law enforcement agents were placed outside to protect the Mark O. Hatfield U. S. Federal Courthouse.
Approximately 4,000 demonstrators arrived to protest outside the federal building.
Protesters were seen wearing gas masks and disregarding deployments of tear gas.
Some chanted: "Stay together, stay tight! We do this every night!"
Video footage from the scene appears to show some type of explosive device detonating on the other side of a fence.
The 12-second clip was shared to Twitter at 3.26am and has since obtained more than 146,000 views.
"Antifa just threw what appears to be an IED at the federal courthouse," Twitter user @Brittany3I wrote alongside the video.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, an IED - improvised explosive device - is a "homemade" bomb or destructive device.
© Department of Justice/TwitterThe Department of Justice tweeted about the contraband confiscated by law enforcement outside the courthouse
The Portland Police Buraeu confirmed in a news release that projectiles were thrown and fires were lit after protesters delivered speeches downtown.
"At about 12:12 am, July 28, 2020, a person threw a Molotov cocktail, or similar destructive device, against the front door of the courthouse which burst into a fireball when it struck the building causing a report to be heard and felt more than a block away," police said.
© Twitter/Justice Department'Gasoline, hockey sticks, defense shields, leaf blowers, paint sprayers, paint cans with paint, and a jar prepped for a Molotov cocktail' were found outside the courthouse in Portland
People blocked SW 3rd Ave, the street the courthouse is located on, and "delivered speeches for over an hour, while others staged shields along the base of a fence surrounding the west side" of the federal building, police explained.
A large fire was ignited in the spot where a 120-year-old Elk statue stood before behind removed earlier this month.
Protesters were spotted wearing gas masks and helmets - with some carrying "signs, hockey sticks, golf clubs, umbrellas, leaf blowers and fireworks," police said.
Police stated: "People started a fire inside the fence and continually added wood, garbage and other debris to build it up. People threw rocks, bottles and other objects and launched fireworks over the fence and at the door of the courthouse."
The activity took place for approximately two hours.
Prior to the Monday night craziness, the Justice Department tweeted about the contraband which was confiscated by law enforcement outside the courthouse.
Portland protesters had an arsenal of deadly weapons including a Molotov cocktail jar, gasoline, and hockey sticks seized.
The items were taken by federal agents as Black Lives Matter demonstrations continued for more than 60 days following the death of George Floyd, prosecutors said on Monday.
Items including homemade shields, helmets, hockey sticks, jars and cans, gasoline, paint sprayers, and a jar prepped for a Molotov cocktail were seen spread on the ground.
Prosecutors said 22 people were arrested following protests at Hatfield Federal Courthouse this weekend.
In response to ANTIFA violence being labeled as a myth, President Trump tweeted Tuesday morning: "They are Anarchists with miles of 'tape' showing their illegal activity."
Trump slammed the "Fake news Media" on Monday night for describing "protesters" in Portland and Seattle as "wonderful, sweet and innocent people."
He continued: "Actually, they are sick and deranged Anarchists & Agitators who our great men & women of Law Enforcement easily control, but who would destroy our American cities. And worse, if Sleepy Joe Biden, the puppet of the Left, ever won. Markets would crash and cities would burn. Our Country would suffer like never before. We will beat the Virus, soon, and go on to the Golden Age - better than ever before!"
Attorney General William Barr has hammered critics and backed federal agents battling a "mob of hundreds of rioters" in fiery House remarks.
Last week, the US Attorney's Office shared that a fence was put up outside the Portland courthouse "to de-escalate tensions and protect the building."
The incidents came amid the ongoing Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 after Minnesota cop Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck during an arrest. Weekend of violence with fires and bloody running battles between police and anti-cop protesters all over America
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