Vancouver officials were left reeling Thursday after a spasm of early-morning violence and rioting—following a defeat for the city in the Stanley Cup finals—left several wounded and a smoldering, looted city center.
Police haven't made an official statement on injuries, but local press reports, citing police officials, cited at least four stabbings and numerous injuries. Looters smashed windows, set overturned cars on fire and looted a major department store.
"It is extremely disappointing to see the situations in downtown Vancouver turn violent," Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a statement.
The Associated Press, quoting the mayor, reported there were no fatalities in the violence, and by sunrise order had been restored.
The night started out relatively quiet, with revelers flooding downtown streets shortly after the game. The Vancouver Canucks lost 4-0 to the Boston Bruins in Game 7, played in Vancouver.
Despite the outcome, the downtown area remained relatively festive. Then, things turned ugly, with rioters overturning cars, setting fires and rampaging across parts of town.
At one point, looters targeted the high-end Bay department store, grabbing T-shirts and anything else they could get their hands on after breaking in, the AP reported. Young women carried off cosmetics, with one carrying out part of a mannequin. As the building filled with smoke, looters, their faces covered in bandannas, continued the violence.
Police had girded for riots. In 1994, after a Stanley Cup final loss against the New York Rangers, Vancouver erupted in similar violence. But after hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver officials said they were prepared this time around, and had deployed large numbers of police to patrol crowds during recent game nights in this year's series.
Police haven't made an official statement on injuries, but local press reports, citing police officials, cited at least four stabbings and numerous injuries. Looters smashed windows, set overturned cars on fire and looted a major department store.
"It is extremely disappointing to see the situations in downtown Vancouver turn violent," Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a statement.
The Associated Press, quoting the mayor, reported there were no fatalities in the violence, and by sunrise order had been restored.
The night started out relatively quiet, with revelers flooding downtown streets shortly after the game. The Vancouver Canucks lost 4-0 to the Boston Bruins in Game 7, played in Vancouver.
Despite the outcome, the downtown area remained relatively festive. Then, things turned ugly, with rioters overturning cars, setting fires and rampaging across parts of town.
Police had girded for riots. In 1994, after a Stanley Cup final loss against the New York Rangers, Vancouver erupted in similar violence. But after hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver officials said they were prepared this time around, and had deployed large numbers of police to patrol crowds during recent game nights in this year's series.
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