23 charged in clash between protestors and police at future Atlanta public safety training center
By: 0:00 - Helicopter footage
4:12 - Surveillance video 1
17:51 - Surveillance video 2
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Police have charged 23 people with domestic terrorism after a violent clash between police and protestors at the site of Atlanta's future Public Safety Training Facility, nicknamed "Cop City" by critics.
Sunday night, police say the DeKalb County construction site was on lockdown as crews worked to put out flames around the area.
In total, the Atlanta Police Department said 35 "agitators" have been detained. It is unknown what charges they will possibly face.
Officials say around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, dozens of protestors left the nearby South River Music Festival, changed into black clothing, and entered the site of the controversial proposed police training center.
"This was a very violent attack that occurred, this evening very violent attack," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said near the scene.
Construction equipment set ablaze at future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center
Smoke and flames are billowing out at the site of Atlanta's future Public Safety Training Facility, infamously called 'Cop City' by protestors. Troopers told FOX 5 a Molotov cocktail was thrown.
A video released by Atlanta Police shows what appears to be fireworks aimed at officers. In the same video, you can see items including rocks and Molotov cocktails being thrown by protestors in the direction of police, a tipped-over vehicle that later became engulfed in flames, and protestors attempting to set other pieces of construction equipment on fire.
Schierbaum called the incident a "coordinated, criminal attack against officers."
"Actions such as this will not be tolerated. When you attack law enforcement officers, when you damage equipment - you are breaking the law," Schierbaum said.
After receiving backup from numerous agencies, Atlanta police fanned out into the woods and detained at least 35 people. Monday, police say they charged 23 of those detained with a count of domestic terrorism.
With protestors vowing a "week of action" against the training site, police say they'll step up patrols to prevent what they call an escalation of violence.
"Criminal activity will not be tolerated in Atlanta nor tolerated in connection to this project," Schierbaum said.
No officers were injured in the confrontation. A handful of protestors were treated for minor injuries when officers say they used "non-lethal" force against the group.
Shortly before noon Monday, police released the identities of the 23 protestors charged in the confrontation. Two of those arrested are from Georgia.
The names of the arrestees are below:
* Jack Beaman of Georgia
* Ayla King of Massachusettes
* Maggie Gates of Indiana
* Ehret Notthingham of Colorado
* Alexis Paplai of Massachusetts
* Timothy Bilodeau of Massachusetts
* Victor Puertas of Utah
* Amin Chaoui of Virginia
* Dimitri LeNy of France
* James Marscicano of North Carolina
* Samuel Ward of Arizona
* Max Biederman of Arizona
* Emma Bogush of Connecticut
* Mattia Luini of New York
* Kayley Meissner of of Wisconsin
* Luke Harper of Florida
* Grace Martin of Wisconsin
* Colin Dorsey of Maine
* Fredrique Rober-Paul of Canada
* Zoe Larmey of Tennessee,
* Thomas Jurgens of Georgia
* Priscilla Grim of New York