United States: Charlottesville attack deemed intentional August 13 /update 2

Event

A car ramming attack at the scene of a right-wing, white supremacist rally and counterprotest in Charlottesville, VA left one dead, and 19 others injured on Saturday, August 12. An additional two police officers were killed when their helicopter crashed en route to the scene to provide backup police support.​ The assailant in the car ramming incident, James Alex Fields, Jr., fled the scene and was arrested shortly thereafter by Charlottesville police. He faces charges of second-degree murder for the killing of counterprotester Heather Heyer, malicious wounding, and failure to stop in an accident that resulted in death.

Later on Saturday, President Trump's statement on the attack was criticized for not specifying white supremacist, Ku Klux Klan, or neo-Nazi elements found to be behind the attack, widely labeled as a terrorist incident. Widespread solidarity rallies against the abovementioned elements and in protest against Saturday's attack are planned across the United States on Sunday, August 13. Further protests are possible in the coming days.

Context

The car-ramming incident came as a "Unite the Right" rally was taking place, which had drawn a number of white nationalist and right-wing groups to protest the removal of a Confederate Civil War statue in Charlottesville. The rally had also drawn large counterprotests. ​Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency at 11:00 on Saturday due to violent clashes between right-wing demonstrators and counterprotesters after hundreds of white nationalists had gathered at Emancipation Park to demonstrate; at least 15 injuries were reported a a result of these confrontations. Scuffles were also reported on the evening of Friday, August 11.

Advice

Individuals are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution and to anticipate traffic disruptions.