A terrifying arsenal of weapons was confiscated during ongoing riots and protests across the US Wednesday — including a loaded AR-15-style rifle and an improvised explosive device, according to officials.
As protests continued for a second night in several major cities during the tense wait for election results, many appeared to come heavily armed and ready for violence amid a background of boarded-up buildings.
In New York, the NYPD said officers who arrested dozens during violent anti-cop protests in the West Village also recovered a Taser, two knives and M80 firecrackers.
“This is not a tool of a peaceful protest,” the force said alongside an image of a confiscated Taser with “police” written on it.
But the most alarming bust came in Portland as the National Guard was called in for the first time during a riot involving at least 600 people.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office shared photos of weapons confiscated from a man who was arrested for allegedly throwing a Molotov Cocktail at officers — including a high-powered AR-15-style rifle with a full magazine of ammo.
“They also recovered multiple additional magazines, an improvised explosive device, a knife and a spray paint cans,” said Chris Liedle, a spokesman for the Unified Command of local law enforcement in a 9 p.m. video update.
“The man was wearing a tactical vest with ballistic plates,” he added. The force also posted images of other weapons seized, including commercial-grade fireworks and hammers.
He was not immediately identified, and it was not clear which protest group he was aligned to. The weapon had a “Dead Tyrant Society” sticker, which investigative reporter Robert Evans called a “veteran-owned lifestyle brand for gun lovers” that suggested he “appeared to be more on the Boogaloo end of things than anywhere else.”
Other weapons were confiscated in separate protests, including in Denver where police arrested four people on weapons violations, CBS4 said.
Officers found a handgun, knife, hammer and bear spray during the arrests, the station said.
