Rubber Bullets Fired in Salt Lake City Center

Rueters ^ | February 24, 2002 3:57 am EST | staff

[badfreeper]

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Rubber bullets were fired as about 50 riot police struggled to control a rampaging crowd in central Salt Lake City, venue of the Winter Olympics, police said Sunday.

The crowd of young people had broken several shop windows, Reuters eye witnesses said, and started throwing rocks and bottles at the police.

They went on the rampage shortly after midnight when police tried to stop them drinking at a temporary bar set up for the Olympics. An area was cordoned off by police cars, the witnesses said.

Helicopters hovered overhead with searchlights on as a series of running battles took place.

The hotel housing the International Olympic Committee was cordoned off by troops carrying automatic weapons.

"There's 2,000 angry people heading this way," a police officer in the hotel said.

The center of the city has been flooded during the 17 days of the Games by crowds enjoying Olympic events, concerts and a party atmosphere.

Saturday night, the last before the Games closes, there was an edge to the atmosphere with groups of youngsters, many drunk, filling the sidewalks.

Normally there are strict regulations governing the sale of alcohol in Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah state.

[Don Myers]

"Lead is harmful to the environment, you know...."

Not a problem. They can hire a few of the illegal immigrants to pick up the bullets.

[mamelukesabre]

That cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh. Let's see what other uses we can come up with for illegal aliens. I'll start.

Start a massive recycling program where all land fills are dug up and sifted and sorted for recyclable materials. Labor provided by illegal immigrants wielding picks, shovels, pitchforks, and wheelbarrows.