Far-Left Extremists Arrested for Domestic Terrorism at Planned Police-Training Center in Atlanta

Five far-left extremists were arrested Tuesday amid a demonstration against the site of a planned public-safety training center that protesters have dubbed “Cop City.”

The proposed training center will be built on 85 acres in a forested area of Dekalb County that previously housed a prison farm. Demonstrators have camped out in the forest’s trees in a show of protest against the $90 million project. 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other state and local police agencies were on site Tuesday working to remove barricades that were blocking several of the entrances to the center when the arrests were made.

“Yesterday, several people threw rocks at police cars and attacked EMT’s outside the neighboring fire stations with rocks and bottles,” the GBI said Wednesday. “Task force members used various tactics to arrest individuals who were occupying makeshift treehouses.”

Police cleared out the makeshift treehouses and discovered explosive devices, gasoline and road flares, according to the bureau.

The five rioters — who hailed from several states, including Maine, California and Wisconsin — were arrested on charges including domestic terrorism.

Protesters have been fighting against the project for months, saying the planned removal of trees to make room for the facility will damage the local environment.

The facility, which is being opened by the Atlanta Police Foundation, will include a shooting range, mock city and burn building. Protesters also claim the site will be used to practice “urban warfare.”

Police had previously arrested several people in recent months amid “ongoing criminal activity” at the site of the proposed training center, including carjacking, destruction of property, arson and attacks on public safety officials, the GBI said.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, said law enforcement will continue to protect the site from criminals.

“We will not stop or slow down when it comes to bringing domestic terrorists to justice in Georgia, and yesterday’s arrests should serve as a strong reminder of that to anyone threatening our communities,” he said. “This group will continue to work closely together as we disrupt the entire criminal network and ensure construction for the first responder training facility moves forward.”