Three federal law enforcement officials in Portland are facing severe and permanent eye damage after protesters shone powerful lasers in their eyes during a demonstration at a federal courthouse.
In a news conference, Federal Protective Service (FPS) Deputy Director of Operations Richard Cline said his department requested additional assistance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protect federal facilities in Portland from violent extremists.
Cline said the rioters threw hard objects and commercial-grade fireworks at the officers and shone lasers in the eyes of officers.
“Protesters were kicking the main doors of the courthouse and shining lasers at officers. A short while later the group had grown increasingly violent and aggressive, the plywood protecting the courthouse was taken down and a window was broken while protesters were attempting to breach the courthouse. Several hard objects, including canned food and glass bottles were thrown at our officers who were out to move them,” Cline said.
Cline said these lasers could cause permanent blindness.
“You’ve seen the green lasers that are being used out there, we have three officers who currently have eye injuries and they may not recover sight in those eyes from those laser attacks. We have purchased anti-laser glasses that the officers are wearing now to prevent those eye injuries,” he added.