One person was shot dead on Saturday during clashes between supporters and opponents of US President Donald Trump in the American city of Olympia, Washington state.
The shooting began after hours of constant skirmishes at a rally where supporters of President Donald Trump displayed posters questioning the integrity of the election, according to The Seattle Times .
Trump has been pushing for weeks to reverse the results of the November elections, which he lost. On Friday night, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Trump’s backed lawsuit overturning Joe Biden’s election victory.
Also on Saturday afternoon, a demonstration was scheduled at the Capitol to reopen schools that were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At Olympia, these demonstrators were greeted by a large crowd of about 200 counter-demonstrators dressed in black. Both sides first shouted derisive chants at each other, and then counter-demonstrators pushed the protesters back to the campus and began throwing stones and other objects. After that, there was a shooting.
Washington State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis confirmed the shooting. Two people were detained in connection with the incident.
Later on Saturday, the state patrol tweeted about an improvised explosive device found on campus during demonstrations. The device was lit and thrown, but it did not detonate. The WSP sappers assessed and transported the device to a remote location where it was brought into a safe state. If the device exploded, it could cause serious injury.
Clashes also erupted in the afternoon as demonstrators and counter-demonstrators met in city streets. Olympia police arrested at least one person on charges of carrying a firearm.
