Rioters set Minneapolis Third Precinct police station on fire (videos)

The Third Precinct police station in Minneapolis was set ablaze on Thursday night as violent protests continued in the city and other cities across the U.S, following Monday’s killing of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after pleading for air as a white police officer knelt on his neck over a long period of time while arresting him.

Rioters were seen cheering and setting off fireworks as the massive fire broke out at the police station which is about 3 miles away from where Floyd was killed. 

Fox News reported that the rioters broke into the precinct around 10 p.m. local time, after police on the rooftop previously tried to disperse a gathering crowd using “flash bang” shots and tear gas. Rioters entered the building and sparked the fire after police officers on the roof were rescued by helicopter. 

A police spokesman confirmed late Thursday that staff had evacuated the 3rd Precinct station, the focus of many of the protests, “in the interest of the safety of our personnel’’ shortly after 10 p.m.

Livestream video showed the protesters entering the building, where fire alarms blared and sprinklers ran as blazes were set.