Rival Migrant Gangs Cause 10-Hour Riot

(LibertySociety.com) – The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department was met with violence on February 17 when responding to a report that a riot had broken out at a cultural festival. The chaos erupted when two rival Eritrean gangs began fighting, which led to a 10-hour standoff. During that period, police officers were attacked by the rioters with various objects, including sticks and rocks. The riot began at around 11:30 in the morning, with responding officers attempting to disperse the crowd. Instead of complying with the orders, the rioters made their way onto a public road.

Officers on bicycles attempted to move the rioters off the street at around 3:00 p.m. but were unsuccessful. Several rioters physically assaulted the officers, prompting the use of pepper spray. According to the police department, “multiple protestors and officers” were treated for pepper spray injuries. Officers told the rioters to disperse again at 6:00 p.m. after they blocked the entrance to the business that was hosting the festival. Shortly after, the rioters set a tractor-trailer on fire, according to the department. The city’s fire department “quickly extinguished the fire and contained the scene.”

It was nearly 9:00 p.m. before officers were able to get the crowd to completely disperse, but eight African Eritrean migrants were arrested during the standoff. Among those arrested was a female with a firearm. She is facing multiple charges, including one for assaulting a police officer. The others were charged with failing to disperse and impeding traffic.

On the same day, a similar event occurred in The Hague in the Netherlands when Eritrean migrants set police cars on fire and assaulted multiple officers with bricks and rocks. The rioters also broke into the Opera House and smashed windows. Officers deployed tear gas to get the situation under control. According to a local news outlet, the Eritrean migrants have incited riots on more than one occasion. Just last year, two Eritrean groups in the city of Rijswijk began fighting during a celebration of Eritrean independence.

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