US President Donald Trump has threatened to “end this Seattle takeover now”, escalating a row with local authorities over a police-free zone controlled by protesters in the city.
“The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. Must end this Seattle takeover now!” he tweeted.
It came a day after the president threatened federal action if the Seattle’s mayor and Washington’s state governor did not “Take back your city NOW”.
“Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will,” Trump had warned Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington state governor Jay Inslee – both Democrats – in a tweet late on Wednesday, calling the protesters “domestic terrorists” who have taken over Seattle.
“This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped (sic) IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST,” he continued in another tweet.
Durkan replied, urging Trump to “make us all safe. Go back to your bunker”, with Inslee joining in the Twitter mockery of Trump.
“A man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington state’s business. ‘Stoop’ tweeting,” Inslee wrote.
The reference to a “bunker” was a nod to reports that Trump was rushed by Secret Service agents to a secure area in the White House as demonstrations against racism and police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd reached the president’s residence.
Seattle, like other US cities, has been gripped by protests against police brutality and racism since the death of Floyd in police custody in Minnesota two weeks ago.
After days of clashes with authorities, demonstrators set up an “autonomous zone” in the city when police vacated a precinct earlier this week.
The makeshift encampment, sectioned off by barricades and spanning several city blocks, has been dubbed “CHAZ”, an abbreviation of Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, the Seattle Times reported.
Hundreds of people have been gathering to demonstrate and hear speeches in the largely peaceful police-free zone, amid calls around the country to “defund” police departments.
Trump on Thursday dismissed such calls, saying that he wanted instead to strengthen police forces.
He outlined proposals for police reforms, including improved training and national guidelines on the use of force.
Officials in Seattle have denied reports that left-wing activists are behind the setting up of the autonomous zone.
In the CHAZ area on Thursday there were tents with supplies for volunteer medics as well as free gourmet food donated by local restaurants, along with fruit, snacks, and water bottles for the taking.
The sunny afternoon gathering had a relaxed air, with people of all ages, including mothers with children, milling around the car-free streets.
At one point a crowd locked arms and prevented two police officers from reaching a boarded-up police station in the area.
The officers failed to break in when they tried to enter through a different road.
“The scene here is peaceful as hell,” said a demonstrator who identified herself as Jahtia B.
She wondered aloud what Trump meant by tweeting “take back the city”. 
“This is our city. I was born and raised in this (expletive) city. Let’s give it to the people, the people who live in Seattle and have been thriving here,” she told AFP.
An African-American demonstrator, Rich Brown, said he was scared on Sunday when police used tear gas and flash grenades in an attempt to clear the area.
“Today I feel supported, welcomed,” he said. “We’re able to speak, it’s what we’ve been wanting to do this whole time, without intimidation, without fear.”