MINNEAPOLIS — Sixteen people were arrested after firing fireworks toward vehicles and other people the night of July 4 and into Wednesday morning.
“The targeting of innocent people with fireworks is unlawful, dangerous, and wholly unacceptable,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara at a press conference.
Eleven of the 16 arrested people were juveniles, O'Hara added, and one person who was shooting fireworks near Boom Island Park injured themself.
Video shot by independent journalist Rebecca Brannon captured some of the chaos around the city and on Boom Island, and another clip posted on Twitter showed a person aiming fireworks like a cannon at a police car.
O'Hara said there were no "serious injuries" from individuals discharging fireworks at other people, including an officer who was in an MPD cruiser when it was seemingly targeted by fireworks.
West River Parkway near the Stone Arch Bridge was closed after 10 p.m. Tuesday to deter groups from congregating, O'Hara said.
O'Hara previously explained that the closure was pre-planned since officials anticipated disorderly conduct similar to last year when people shot off fireworks toward cars and buildings after the Independence Day holiday.
Nearby in the area of Boom Island Park, the Minneapolis Park Police reported responding to a group of about 40 young adults shooting fireworks on the Plymouth Avenue Bridge and targeting people and police officers.
A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody and booked after allegedly launching mortars at Park Police, according to officials. A driver also allegedly shot fireworks at Park Police but fled in their vehicle, officials said.
Despite the pockets of chaos, O'Hara said he was pleased with the department's plan for safety following the Fourth of July festivities.
"There's a very robust plan in place to secure some of these locations that we knew would be problematic beforehand to close some of the streets, to close the bridge, to ensure additional visible, you know, presence to deter some of these gatherings in the first place," O'Hara told KARE 11.
Multiple agencies, including the Minnesota State Patrol and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office assisted MPD throughout the night.
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