12 Arrested After Looters Hit King Of Prussia Mall

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — A dozen people were arrested for looting and vandalism at the King of Prussia Mall on Saturday night, officials announced.

The looting took place as peaceful demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd turned violent in some places in the region, especially parts of Philadelphia over the weekend.

The police response to protect the mall brought more than 200 officers to the scene, many of whom were pelted with objects by rioters, according to Upper Merion police. No officers suffered serious injuries.

Police became aware of plans to loot the mall at around 8 p.m. on Saturday. Officials said they found social media posts encouraging looting, and dispatched crews to protect the mall.

>>Upper Merion Institutes Curfew Through Wednesday Amid Looting

Large groups began to arrive at around 9 p.m. and "made attempts" to break into the mall. Though they did not get inside the mall, they caused damage to several restaurants and stores around its perimeter.

Authorities charged the individuals with riot and related offenses. The names of the arrested individuals were not released.

Police have dispatched additional resources to the mall for Sunday and Monday evenings. A curfew is in effect throughout the township. The curfew will be in place from 8 p.m. Monday, June 1, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 2. It will go into effect again on 9 p.m. on Tuesday, and be lifted at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3.

Upper Merion Police Chief Thomas Nolan said the department will support "a citizen's right to protest."

He pointed to an incident earlier on Saturday on Route 202 and Henderson Road, where he said that police worked with protesters to carry out their demonstration peacefully.

"This group was not involved in the violence and property damage that occurred at the Mall later in the night," Nolan said. "Peaceful protest activity will always be supported by the Upper Merion Township Police Department. Violence and property damage will be met with arrest and prosecution."

In a news conference Sunday, Gov. Wolf urged protesters to "honor democracy" while making their viewpoints heart. "Speak your mind, and speak it with peace," he said.

Protests in Philadelphia, which was the epicenter of the demonstrations in the region over the weekend, were largely peaceful until splinter groups devolved into chaos as the day wore on. Several fires were set, including a three-alarm blaze in Center City that took hours to quell. Rioters destroyed storefronts and laid waste to Walnut and Chestnut streets, and had violent encounters with police in other parts of the city as well.

Floyd, 46, was killed by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin, who was captured on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for nine minutes while he asked for water and said he couldn't breathe.