Three Charged In Alleged Firebombing Of Atlanta Police Center Contractor
Three alleged Antifa-linked protesters were indicted this week on charges accusing them of firebombing a contractor working on the Atlanta police training center, authorities said (Fox News).
Prosecutors say the indictment follows an investigation into an attack that damaged construction equipment and sought to disrupt work at the site (Fox News). The charges name three people tied to protests opposing the training center and could lead to felony counts if convictions occur.
The episode traces back to April 2021, when Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced plans to build a public safety training complex on land in DeKalb County, sparking opposition from environmental and racial justice advocates (Fox News). The city council approved a land lease in September 2021, and activists formed the "Defend the Atlanta Forest" and "Stop Cop City" occupations to block construction. Tensions rose in early 2022 as police tried to clear camps and clashes produced arrests.
The facility that emerged sits on about 85 acres and cost roughly $115 million to build, with opposition and related incidents increasing costs by about $20 million. Protests have caused more than $10 million in damage to construction equipment and police vehicles, and the site is in the South River Forest, a green space that helps regulate local temperatures and provides climate resiliency. This week's indictments shift attention from environmental debates to criminal allegations and will affect how officials and activists approach the site going forward.
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📊 Relevant Data
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is an 85-acre police and fire training facility that cost $115 million to build, with opposition and related incidents increasing costs by approximately $20 million. ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years)) ([Police1](https://www.police1.com/police-training/atlantas-115m-pd-training-center-opens-after-4-years))
Atlanta's $115M PD training center opens after 4 years — Police1
Protests against the training center have caused over $10 million in damage to construction equipment and police vehicles. ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta)) ([GovTech](https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/controversial-public-safety-training-center-opens-in-atlanta))
Controversial Public Safety Training Center Opens in Atlanta — GovTech
The training center is located in the South River Forest, an ecologically important area that provides climate resiliency benefits such as temperature regulation for nearby residents. ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate)) ([Brookings Institution](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/atlantas-cop-city-and-the-relationship-between-place-policing-and-climate))
Atlanta's 'Cop City' and the relationship between place, policing, and climate — Brookings Institution
📌 Key Facts
- A Georgia grand jury indicted three defendants on two counts of criminal property damage and one count of arson.
- The alleged attack targeted Brasfield and Gorrie’s Marietta office, a contractor on the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, on May 12, 2022.
- Officials say explosive devices, fireworks, and vandalism caused hundreds of dollars in damage while employees were inside the building.
- Attorney General Chris Carr says the three are among 61 defendants tied to the "Defend the Atlanta Forest" protests previously charged with domestic terrorism and racketeering.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time