From Dispatch Room
One person has died after a vehicle crashed into the front entrance of the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon, and caught fire in what police are investigating as a possible explosive attack.
The incident happened around 2:49 a.m. Saturday in the city’s Goose Hollow neighborhood. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene to find the vehicle engulfed in flames inside the doorway of the private athletic club.
After the fire was put out, emergency responders found one person dead inside the vehicle. Investigators later discovered evidence of an explosive device, prompting the Portland Police Bureau’s Explosive Disposal Unit to secure the area.
Federal investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also called in to assist with the investigation.
According to The Oregonian, citing law enforcement sources, the driver was believed to be a former disgruntled employee of the club. The vehicle was reportedly filled with suspected propane tanks and pipe bombs, with some devices said to have detonated while others did not.
The attack caused major damage to the Multnomah Athletic Club, one of Portland’s most prominent private athletic and social institutions. Sources cited by The Oregonian said the first floor was severely damaged, with losses potentially running into millions of dollars.
The club’s general manager, Charles Leverton, reportedly informed members that no employees or club members were injured.
The Multnomah Athletic Club has announced that it will remain closed until further notice, with all programs, services and scheduled activities canceled. Authorities have also urged residents and members of the public to avoid the surrounding area while investigations continue.
Police said it is still too early to determine all the circumstances surrounding the crash and the explosive materials found in the vehicle.
— Newspot Nigeria
