Vandals deface sheriff’s vehicle and U.S. Customs House in Center City, three carried ‘numerous molotov cocktails,’ police say

Six people were arrested, police said, and several of them were found to be in possession of “numerous molotov cocktails."

Items seized by police after they took three people into custody at 6th and Sansom St. for vandalism and related offenses in Center City on New Years Eve Dec. 31, 2020. According to police Chief Inspector Mike Cram Homeland Security a group of approx. 50 people clad in all black were first seen vandalizing the US Customs House the group then fled and vandalized the Federal Detention Center with ANTIFA related graffiti and then some members of the group were intercepted by police at 6th and Sansom. In total six people were arrested. Molotov cocktails, unidentified explosives and spray paint were a few of the items found on those arrested.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

by Tommy Rowan

Updated Dec. 31, 2020, 11:20 p.m. ET

Published Dec. 31, 2020, 10:45 p.m. ET

The U.S. Custom’s House and a sheriff’s van were vandalized Thursday night by a group of 50 people dressed in all black, hours before the city celebrated the end of 2020, authorities said.

The group broke a few windows around 8:30 p.m. at the Custom’s House at Second and Chestnut Streets before police intervened, according to Chief Inspector Mike Cram.

The group split, and several people vandalized the federal detention center with Antifa-related graffiti at Seventh and Arch Streets, Cram said. Others spray-painted the letters “ACAB” on a nearby sheriff’s van and broke several windows.

Six people were arrested, Cram said. Three of them were in possession of “numerous molotov cocktails,” he said.