Authorities in Oregon said at least three federal law enforcement officers may not regain their eyesight after a large demonstration turned violent outside a Portland federal courthouse earlier this week.
"You’ve seen the green lasers that are being used out there, we have three officers who currently have eye injuries, and they may not recover sight in those eyes from those laser attacks," Cline stated.
The FPS has purchased anti-laser glasses that federal officers are now wearing during the riots to prevent further eye injuries, the director added.
Cline said a large crowd of over a thousand protesters gathered shortly after midnight outside the courthouse, blocking the streets and repeatedly kicking the front door of the building. About 20 minutes later, rioters started a fire across the street of the courthouse, an area where they usually gather after midnight.
"The group [grew] increasingly violent and aggressive, the plywood protecting the Hatfield Courthouse was taken down and a window was broken while protesters were attempting to breach the courthouse," Cline stated.
"Rioters were successful in tearing off part of the protective barrier of the Portland federal courthouse," Ngo wrote. "They then try to shatter the glass so that they can start a fire inside"
"Several hard objects, including can food and glass bottles were thrown at our officers who were out to move them," Cline said. "Protesters advanced towards and engaged the officers, began throwing water bottles and other hard objects, fireworks, and using lasers."
Cline explained authorities responded by deploying pepper balls and tear gas and managed to make seven arrests following the unrest. Two of the people were arrested for alleged assault on federal officers and five others for noncompliance with lawful directions.
Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said at the press conference that the department fully supports and will protect those who wish to peacefully protest in Portland, but what officers are seeing every night is completely the opposite.
"What is occurring in Portland in the early hours of every morning is not peaceful protesting, these individuals are organized and they have one mission in mind: to burn down or to cause extreme damage to the federal courthouse and to law enforcement officers," Wolf said.
"We see them planning their attacks, and yet the city of Portland takes little to no action to stop or disperse this crowd," he continued. "These individuals carry lasers, baseball bats, explosive fireworks, metal pipes, glass bottles, accelerants, and other weapons all targeting federal facilities and federal law enforcement."