Providence, RI) -- Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is activating the National Guard to help state and local police handle potential violent riots and looting. Ongoing nationwide protests were sparked by last week's death of an unarmed black man in police custody in Minneapolis. Raimondo condemned looting in Providence and said violence is not the answer. Roughly 70 people were arrested overnight.
The violence in Providence early this morning across from the Providence Place Mall was not the result of protesters. That's according to Rhode Island State Police, who say a mob of people from out of state planned a coordinated attack on the city, armed with crowbars, gasoline and flares. They say they received intelligence that Providence would come under some type of attack, including looting and burning buildings, and that Massachusetts State Police spotted many vehicles from out of state heading to Rhode Island.A police car was set on fire and people tried to set the mall on fire but they were stopped. Several officers were injured. Dozens of people were arrested.