Antifa Protests Ignite Fires, Occupy University of Washington Building

Protesters described as Antifa and anti-Israel activists temporarily occupied the University of Washington's Interdisciplinary Engineering Building to protest the university's partnership with Boeing, which they allege supports actions against Palestinians. The group set multiple fires, including in dumpsters and on the street, with some fires reportedly burning for 45 minutes and causing safety concerns. Demonstrators blocked police, fire trucks, and buses, used barricades, and threw objects at law enforcement, including bikes and scooters whose batteries exploded in the flames. Police and state officers eventually entered the building, arrested about 30 individuals for trespassing, property destruction, and disorderly conduct, and referred charges to the King County Prosecutor’s Office; some students face additional disciplinary actions. Protesters displayed Palestinian flags and called for violence against police, while university officials condemned the property destruction and vowed to pursue legal consequences for those involved. The incident reflects ongoing campus tensions over U.S. university ties to defense contractors and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.