‘This was a mob, this was not protesters’: Crowd sets police cruiser on fire, storms Providence mall

PROVIDENCE — Dozens of people broke into a mall, police cruisers were lit on fire and several people were arrested overnight after a peaceful protest in Providence.

WPRI reports dozens of people broke into the Providence Place Mall sometime after 1 a.m. Tuesday and several people said they saw at least three people being carried out in handcuffs. Several businesses had their windows smashed and some cars in the mall parking lot were also damaged. The mall had just reopened to shoppers Monday after being closed since March.

A group of people could be seen on video smashing the windshield and windows of a police cruiser in front of the mall before lighting it on fire and crowds blocked a fire truck that arrived to put out the flames.

Rhode Island State Police Col. James Manni said he believes most of the people involved in the violence were from out of state and were not part of the protest. “This was a mob, this was not protesters. This was an intentional coordinated attack on the city and once gas was deployed, they dispersed into the streets into the neighborhoods and that’s what we’re doing now we’re rounding them up,” Manni said. “There was substantial damage to vehicles and buildings.”

Police said at least 10 people were arrested. Massachusetts State Police and the Department of Homeland Security was also called in.

Several stores near the mall, in downtown Providence, were also vandalized.

The Providence Journal reported that a flier on social media was circulating on social media calling for looting in the city starting at midnight.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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