All liquor stores in Philadelphia shut down Wednesday after mass looting unfolded across several locations across the city on Tuesday.
The looting started after the conclusion of peaceful protests against a judge’s decision to dismiss all charges against a former Philadelphia police officer, Mark Dial, in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry that took place on August 14.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board closed 49 retail wine and liquor stores – 48 in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The decision was taken after 18 stores were looted overnight, Shawn Kelly, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, told CNN.
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Kelly confirmed that no employees were injured in the mass looting situation that unfolded. Nevertheless, “some were understandably shaken” by the incidents.
“Today, all FW&GS (Fine Wine & Good Spirits) stores in Philadelphia and one in Cheltenham Plaza, Wyncote, Montgomery County, are closed in the interest of employee safety and while we assess the damage and loss that occurred,” Kelly said in a statement. “We will reopen stores when it is safe to do so and when the damage is repaired. It is too early to tell how much was damaged or destroyed.”
According to its website, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is one of the largest purchasers of beverage alcohol in the US.
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Jane Roh, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia district attorney’s office said that following the looting of stores throughout Philadelphia’s Center City district and the liquor stores Tuesday night, 52 people have been arrested, including three juveniles.
According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford, the looters were “opportunists” and had no connection to the protests. “This had nothing to do with the protests. What we had tonight was a bunch of criminal opportunists take advantage of a situation,” Stanford said a late-night news conference.