Protesters looted stores and set fires across Philadelphia on Sunday — prompting President Trump to urge Pennsylvania’s governor to call in the National Guard.
“Law & Order in Philadelphia, NOW!” Trump tweeted. “They are looting stores. Call in our great National Guard like they FINALLY did (thank you President Trump) last night in Minneapolis.”
News choppers captured images of numerous stores in West Philadelphia being ransacked and fires raging out of control in Center City amid ongoing anger over the police-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, WPVI-TV reported.
One video clip shows police chasing down looters, and another people attacking a police vehicle.
Authorities shut all streets in Center City, closed the Ben Franklin bridge, and ordered all business in the trendy retail hub to close down “immediately” in anticipation of a 6 p.m. curfew, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Philadelphia police said they had made 215 arrests in the city as of Sunday afternoon, following a night of violent confrontations, widespread looting and torched buildings, the outlet said.
“Deeply saddened by the destruction we saw last night in Center City. In looting downtown, these individuals not only desecrated private businesses, they also desecrated the important message that was heard in the earlier, peaceful protests,” city Mayor Jim Kenney said on Twitter Sunday.