Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says ‘far right’ agitators led to nearly 30 people arrested during chaotic protests

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced that 29 people were arrested and blamed a “far right” agitator for trying to rile up demonstrators, as one police officer was injured during chaotic protests across the city on Friday night.

Frey praised the “vast majority” of peaceful protesters for “not taking the bait” of agitators that he said were trying to rile up large crowds into a frenzy, he stated at a snowswept press conference on Saturday morning.

“I saw this video, I think it was yesterday, where you had this agitator clearly from the far right that was coming in and trying to rile up the crowd. He was trying to make the crowd take the bait,” Frey said. It was not clear if that unidentified man was arrested.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that there were 29 arrests stemming from protests Friday night including for some who damaged property at the raucous demonstration outside the downtown Canopy Hotel.

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“Ultimately by 1 a.m. all of these individuals were either dispersed or placed under arrest,” the chief reported Saturday.

One Minnesota Police Department officer was injured by a chunk of ice hurled by a protester, according to officials.

O’Hara praised the 200 local and state police officers for a “disciplined and restrained response” to the aggressive protesters.

Demonstrations erupted across the city Friday night, including over 1,000 protestors outside the Canopy Hotel, where Minnesotans believed ICE agents were shacked up, after they were previously booted from a Hilton hotel.

O’Hara said officers are prepared to make additional arrests if protesters “cross the line” as demonstrations continue into Saturday.