Minnesota officials discover pi$$ bombs, anti-bus weapons devices and weapons at an apartment in Minneapolis last night during a raid.
The apartment belonged to members of the RNC Welcoming Committee.
The rnc anarchists are planning meetings today to discuss the crisis.
TwinCities.com reported:
Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies found weapons and devices to disable buses – among other items – in searches in the Twin Cities last night and today.
Authorities said the items came from “key members of the RNC Welcoming Committee,” a self-described anarchist group.
Five people have been arrested and four properties have been searched, according to the sheriff’s office.
At 8 a.m. today, the sheriff’s office executed search warrants at three Minneapolis homes – 2301 23rd Ave. S., 3500 Harriet Ave. and 3240 17th Ave. S. The FBI, Minneapolis police and the Hennepin County sheriff’s office assisted them.
“The ‘Welcoming Committee’ is a criminal enterprise made up of 35 anarchists who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention,” said Sheriff Bob Fletcher in a statement. “These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers. They have recruited assistance in their criminal conspiracy from other anarchists groups throughout the country. Through their plans and actions they have exhibited a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of others.”
The statement said the items found in the searches included:
Materials to create “sleeping dragons” (PVC pipe, chicken wire, duct tape), which is when protesters lock themselves together
Large amounts of urine, including three to five gallon buckets of urine
Wrist rockets (high-powered
slingshots)
A machete, hatchet and several throwing knives
a gas mask and filter
Empty glass bottles
Rags
Flammable liquids
Homemade caltrops (devises used to disable buses in roads)
Metal pipes
Axes
Bolt cutters
Sledge hammers
Repelling equipment
Kryptonite locks
Empty plastic buckets cut and made into shields
Material for protective padding
An Army helmet.The five people being held at the Hennepin County jail are under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to riot, conspiracy to commit civil disorder and conspiracy to damage property.
Arrested at the 17th Avenue home were Monica Rachel Bicking, 23, Erin Chase Trimmer, 23, and Garrett Scott Fitzgerald, 25, Nestor said.
Nathanel David Secor, 26,was arrested at the 23rd Avenue South home.
Erik Charles Oseland, 21, was arrested an undisclosed location, the sheriff’s office said.
“Conspiracy to riot was the charge used against the Chicago Eight in 1968 as part of a politically motivated prosecution,” said Bruce Nestor, president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. “It is a charge that is essentially used for preventive detention.”
Founding Bloggers has video made by the RNC protest group.
