Woonsocket Imposes Nightly Curfew Until Further Notice

WOONSOCKET, RI — Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt announced Wednesday night that an 8 p.m. nightly curfew will be in place until further notice following the violence that took place in Providence late Monday night.

The order cites threats of violence toward police and damage to property made on social media toward the city in the past two days, as well as the destruction in Providence Monday night, where Woonsocket police were called in to assist. Baldeli-Hunt said that Woonsocket Public Safety Director Eugene Jalette and Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates requested the curfew.

The curfew extends until 5 a.m. each morning with exceptions existing for emergency workers, medical workers, those wishing to worship and the media.

Tuesday night was relatively quiet across the state one night after Gov. Gina Raimondo accused groups of planning an organized "attack" on the city of Providence.

"They came here to blow up the Providence Place Mall," Raimondo said during her Tuesday daily news conference. "They came here to torch the State House. They came here to destroy much of the city of Providence. And it didn't happen. Because we were prepared."

Providence, East Providence, Cranston and Warwick all declared curfews Tuesday night. While Woonsocket did not, police said they were made aware of "vast social media posts threatening violence, vandalism and harm to police and local businesses" and urged residents to shelter at home.

Related Patch Coverage: East Providence Police Report No Protest-Related Arrests Tuesday

Woonsocket Police: Violent Social Media Threats Made Against City