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Video shows masked men threatening protesters before Minneapolis shootings

A chilling video of masked men dressed in military fatigues is generating new attention after five people were shot in Minneapolis Monday during a Black Lives Matter demonstration over the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jamar Clark by police.

The Minneapolis Black Lives Matter chapter posted a 90-second video on its Facebook page on Friday of two masked men apparently on their way to the Black Lives Matter protest encampment in the downtown area.

In the video a man wearing a balaclava and a military jacket can be seen under the bright light of a car’s interior lights as he begins a racist speech promoting white supremacy.

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READ MORE: Group raised suspicions before 5 were shot at Minneapolis police protest

“This is SaigaMarine,” he says into a camera, which was apparently broadcast live on the Internet.

“This is Black Powder Ranger,” he added, introducing the man in passenger seat, also dressed in camouflage and a keffiyeh hiding his face.

“We’re going to go see what these f—– dindus are up to,” he said, using a derogatory term for African Americans.

At one point in the video the man identified as SaigaMarine holds a handgun up to the camera and says “We are locked and loaded.” He ends the video by saying “stay white.”

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On Tuesday, Minneapolis police arrested a 23-year-old white man, who remained in custody, and a 32-year-old Hispanic man, who was later released. Two more men – both white, ages 26 and 21 – turned themselves in Tuesday afternoon.

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READ MORE: Minneapolis police seek gunmen after 5 people shot at Black Lives Matter protest

While police have not made a connection between the men in the video and the suspects arrested, protesters said Monday that the men who started shooting were wearing masks.

Miski Noor, representing Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, told Reuters that four men wearing masks approached the demonstration site. When the men wouldn’t identify themselves, Black Lives Matter protesters escorted them away before they opened fire on the demonstrators.

Police are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

In the Facebook post, Black Lives Matter activists wrote that they recognized the men in the video as those who had visited the demonstration on Thursday night.

“Last night two white supremacists, one carrying a pistol, showed up to our peaceful protest at the 4th precinct,” the post said. “After community members on livestream started questioning them they left without incident, then we later found a video of them en route to the protest brandishing a pistol and making comments including ‘stay white’ and justifying the killing of Jamar Clark.”

READ MORE: Video released showing black teen being shot by Chicago police office

Police have said they are aware of the video and several online threats against the protesters, but have not provided any further details.

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WATCH ABOVE: Minnesota Governor calls video of Jamar Clark shooting inconclusive

Demonstrations have been ongoing in Minneapolis for more than a week following the death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark who was fatally shot by police. Questions have been raised about whether Clark was handcuffed when he was shot, which police have denied.

Clark’s shooting comes amid several high-profile instances in the United States over police use of lethal force, especially against black people.

In Chicago, hundreds took to the streets following the release of graphic video that showed a black teenager who was shot 16 times by a white Chicago police officer.

 

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