By Erika Hernandez
A driver died early Saturday morning after deliberately crashing a vehicle loaded with improvised explosive devices into the Multnomah Athletic Club.one of the most iconic social clubs in Portland, Oregon.
According to municipal authorities, the incident occurred shortly before 2:50 am, when club employees observed a vehicle driving slowly around the building before it burst through a window and entered the interior, KPTV reported.
The car quickly caught fire, and emergency crews later confirmed that One person – the driver – was found dead inside the vehicle..
Active devices and high risk operation
Portland Police Bureau explosives specialists found multiple incendiary devices and improvised explosives, as well as propane tanks, inside the vehicle.
Some devices recorded partial detonations, leaving live explosives scattered in the area. Bomb squads have worked for more than 14 hours using robots to safely defuse and remove the materials.
Authorities described the scene as one of the most complex faced by the specialized unit, due to the persistent risk and the presence of multiple devices.
The vehicle was directed towards the club’s restaurant area, where a gas line is located, which increased the destructive potential of the incident. However, emergency crews managed to cut off the supply in time.
Authorities indicated that the failure to fully detonate the explosives prevented a catastrophic event. Even so, the building suffered significant damage, with reports pointing to million-dollar losses.
Joint investigation and possible antecedents
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) participates in the investigation along with local police. So far, the reason has not been determined.although the authorities consider the event as an isolated event and without an active threat to the community.
Sources cited in the investigation suggest that the driver could have been a former employee of the club, although this information has not been officially confirmed.
The case occurs weeks after another incident in the same place, when a vehicle hit the property and injured a security guard, with no relationship established between the two events.
The Multnomah Athletic Club board reported that the facility will remain closed indefinitely while security and investigation work continues.
“The goal is to ensure the space is completely safe before reopening,” the administration said in a statement.
Keep reading:
–Two-year-old boy who disappeared from his backyard found dead in Oregon river
–Four Hispanics arrested for dozens of home robberies in Oregon
–Teenagers kill man who tried to stop a store from being robbed in Oregon
