Riots in Vancouver After Epic Fail by Canucks!

http://www.canada.com/sports/Riots+erupt+Vancouver+Bruins+beat+Canucks+Game/4953607/story.html
see also http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/tag/vancouver-riot/

VANCOUVER — Chaos erupted on the streets of downtown Vancouver Wednesday night as hockey fans — fuelled by booze and the Vancouver Canucks' crushing Stanley Cup defeat — overturned and set ablaze vehicles, smashed windows of several businesses, and got into fist fights.

A line of police clad in full riot gear pushed crowds back in successive waves outside the main post office where most of the trouble was centred.

But the crowds were slow to disperse — despite a series of explosions — and many of the troublemakers were egged on by cheering crowds documenting the chaos on their cellphones.

Police shut down bridges coming into downtown Vancouver as the mob set two police cars on fire. The officers in full riot gear used flash-bang grenades, while the angry mob threw chairs back at them in retaliation.

Transportation officials have also barred buses from taking passengers into the downtown core.

Trouble started as the seconds wound down at the end of the game as people began to throw beer bottles at giant screens that had been showing the game, witnesses said.

Mobs flipped over a vehicle and set it ablaze sending thick black smoke into the air and then did the same to what appeared to be a work truck nearby.

Vandals smashed the windows of a BMO bank, the library square building and the Vancouver Playhouse.

One young man picked up a wooden barricade and drove it through the windows of the main post office.

A line of helmeted police carrying shields and batons — followed by some officers on horseback — walked in formation to push the crowds back.

People lobbed whatever they could at the police including large branches, bottles, pylons — even a skateboard.

One man held a bloodied hand with a handkerchief. Another man lay on a curb appearing to be wincing in pain.

Two young women, arms locked tightly together, pushed their way through the crowds trying to find a way out.

Police requested witnesses to send their photos of the rioters to the Vancouver Police Department to help identify the culprits. Several photos had been posted on the Facebook group Vancouver Riot Pics: Post Your Photos by late Wednesday night to help with the police investigation.

Along one of downtown's major corridors, the Granville street strip, vandalism intensified as groups smashed and kicked in the windows of more businesses, including the Hudson's Bay store, Blenz coffee, and several boutiques. They also overturned newspaper boxes and lit garbage cans ablaze.

At one intersection several witnesses said police unleashed a torrent of pepper spray on them.

In what seemed to be a futile effort, police tried to get crowds to disperse by telling them over a bullhorn that they were assembling "unlawfully" and that they were subject to arrest if they didn't disperse. People were confused though which direction to go.

"It just seems so meaningless. We just saw two cars burn," said Neil MacDougall, 24, of Toronto. "It's not worth it. It shows disrespect for the city."

The incident immediately brought back memories of the 1994 riot that erupted after the Canucks Stanley Cup loss to the New York Rangers.

Justin Perry from Delta, B.C., was tear gassed as he tried to get out of the area. "It's going to be just like '94," Perry said. "People are drinking, doing drugs." Perry said he feels a little bit trapped, as police have shut off the streets at both ends, corralling people in.

The ER and intensive care unit at Vancouver General Hospital declared a Code Orange as it was swamped with multiple patients.

Staff has set up triage in the parking lot. One man who was stabbed in the neck was just admitted.

Police have no idea how many arrests have been made as hundreds of officers moved to and from what police called "hot spots."

Vancouver police Const. Jana McGuinness said officers were dealing with people determined to commit criminal acts. "It's unfortunate that this will be the lasting memory of what was a great Stanley Cup run in Vancouver," she said.

Police estimate the crowd peaked at 70,000 people arriving much earlier through the day.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson issued a news release late Wednesday evening saying the chaos was "embarrassing and shameful." "It is extremely disappointing to see the situation in downtown Vancouver turn violent after tonight's Stanley Cup game," Robertson said. "It is unfortunate that a small number of people intent on criminal activity have turned pockets of the downtown into areas involving destruction of property and confrontations with police."