Police have taken control of a large group of members of the nationalist group Patriot Front in Coeur d’Alene in the state of Idaho.
Updated less than 10 minutes ago
–
The people were found in the back of a van from U-Haul, wearing masks and Finnish hats, khaki trousers, blue shirts and caps. On the clothes were printed marks from the group and slogans such as “reclaim America”.
To several American media, the police say that the group had shields, spears and smoke grenades.
Police say the men were arrested for planning riots, write The Spokesman.
–Large police forces
A video that is spread on social media shows the time when the police opened the tailgate of a van, which was full of people with their faces covered. They were later seen in handcuffs and strips.
Before the arrest, several of the participants in the Pride event were stunned by large police officers in the area.
Got tips
Police say they received tips about the van from a caller who said he had seen what looked like a small army squeezing into the car in the parking lot of a motel.
– It may seem that these people were not here to participate in peaceful activities, said Sheriff Bob Noriss at the police press conference.
He explains that they have had increased preparedness around the Pride event in the city.
The Patriot Front is described as a nationalist hate group that emerged after the right-wing radical demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.
Local media also write that a group for gun rights, the Panhandle Patriots, held a counter-demonstration against the Pride event.
Videos on social media show a group of armed men with banners with the text “Groomers are not welcome in Idaho”.
–
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/3658078/original/076648100_1639048981-photo-1613373167555-4e9c05a6a85a.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
