Police: Officers injured after protesters throw ‘improvised explosives’ in Seattle

SEATTLE — Officials with the Seattle Police Department say several officers were injured during a clash with protesters outside the East Precinct in Capitol Hill Saturday night.

Around 7:30 p.m., police said demonstrators began moving barricades set up near 11th and Pine.

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Police said they made multiple requests for them to stop.

Some of the demonstrators then began throwing rocks, bottles and “improvised explosives” at officers, police said.

The police department tweeted out a picture of what appears to be the remnants of a candle and a glass container in their original report about the “improvised explosives.”

Police Chief Carmen Best was asked about the photo but she did not clarify what types of “explosives” were thrown.

Best said two of the injured officers were sent to the hospital. She did not give a further update on their conditions.

Protesters at the scene told KIRO 7 there were some “instigators” in the crowd, but stressed that many people in attendance are promoting peace.

After the confrontation between police and demonstrators on Capitol Hill, the Seattle Police Officers Guild sent a letter to the mayor on behalf of its members expressing its concern after some demonstrators threw objects at officers.

The letter from SPOG President Officer Mike Sloan said in part:

“I’m writing this letter to inform you of the tenuous situation impacting SPOG members at the Seattle Police Department East Precinct. As I author this letter, several objects have been thrown at officers which have exploded. Several SPOG members are injured. As the situation on the ground devolves into more violence, singularly perpetuated by a group of criminal agitators on the west side of the barricade on Pine Street and 11th Avenue, I’m fearful that further exposure to SPOG members from these criminal violent acts will have drastic repercussions for public safety.”

Click here to read the letter in its entirety.

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