George Floyd death: Angry protesters set Minneapolis police precinct on fire, city warns of explosion
As outrage sparked and tensions heightened over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, protesters stormed into a police precinct and set it on fire. The Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd precinct was seen up in flames at around 10 pm. Angry protesters were seen taking over the building and climbing on top of the roof of the building as they celebrated the flames and fire.
While fire alarms were heard going off in the background, protesters could be heard saying, "What’s his name? George Floyd!" as fireworks shot up into the air, NY Post reports. A picture from the scene shows rioters making their way into the building using an open door. The Minneapolis Police Department revealed that officers and other workers inside the precinct had been evacuated a little after 10 pm. The Department shared, "Protesters forcibly entered the building and have ignited several fires."
On Thursday night, May 28, the city warned people to stay away from the precinct should the building have any explosion. The city tweeted, "We’re hearing unconfirmed reports that gas lines to the Third Precinct have been cut and other explosive materials are in the building. If you are near the building, for your safety, PLEASE RETREAT in the event the building explodes," the tweet read. As the building burned, another fire was seen across the street at a wine and liquor store located close to the intersection of Minnehaha Avenue and Lake Street.
The last three nights have seen tensions soar making the precinct the primary target for protesters. It has been reported that the four police officers involved in the death of George Floyd had worked there. The Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had called the National Guard in order to curb the violence. A white police officer was seen kneeling over the neck of Floyd for over eight minutes even after Floyd repeatedly said that he was unable to breathe.
We previously reported that the family lawyer has called for the cop in question, Derek Chauvin, to be charged with murder and the other three officers involved to be charged as murder accomplices.
The lawyer shared that Chauvin had knelt on Floyd's neck for a sickening eight minutes. "Please," the man can be heard pleading. "Please, please I can't breathe." The shocking video clip was taken on Monday, May 25. Floyd eventually lost consciousness as the officer refused to move and continued to drive his knee into Floyd's neck. Floyd later lost his life. The authorities had arrested him for allegedly trying to use forged documents while at a local deli.
The four disgraced police officers have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department. George Floyd's death sparked a lot of outrage amongst celebrities as well who took to various social media platforms to make it known that they did not condone police brutality and disregard for black lives.
Rapper Cardi B posted, "Enough is enough! What will it take? A civil war? A new president? Violent riots? It’s tired! I’m tired! The country is tired! You don’t put fear in people when you do this you just show how coward YOU ARE! And how America is really not the land of the free!"
Singer Ciara shared, "My heart can't take it, seeing what’s happened to #GeorgeFloyd. This is eerily similar to the death of #EricGarner. There has to be a stopping point in the process of arresting someone. It’s all senseless."
George Floyd's death has been compared to the 2014 death of Eric Garner who died after being choked by the police in another example of extreme police brutality and inhumanity.