Super Bowl rioters destroy Oakland property

Even before the Steelers had the chance to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy, Pitt students stormed the street of Oakland to celebrate the Steelers' sixth Super Bowl victory. The Steelers, who were favored to win by six and a half points, won the game as expected, beating the Cardinals 27-23. And thousands of students rioted, as expected.

The Pitt, city of Pittsburgh and county police weaved through the crowds arresting people climbing traffic poles, destroying street signs, twisting a traffic light, lighting couches on fire, shooting off fireworks and flipping cars. Celebrators flipped a car on Oakland Avenue that had to be towed away. Some students attempted to burn tall cylinders where students staple fliers. At the Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard intersection, students used newspapers to set newspaper boxes ablaze.

County police brought horses blocking South Bouquet Street. Police around the intersection of Forbes Avenue and South Bouquet Street confiscated damaged or burned property, including a Post Gazette box.

Some individuals uprooted street signs and tried to smash parking meters.

People also lit couches and several dumpsters on fire. Fire fighters put out two dumpster fires around the intersection of Atwood Street and Cable Place. Police kept people away from two large dumpster fires on Forbes Avenue as well.

Later on celebrators kicked in windows on the ground level of Hillman Library.

Here are some pictures from the celebrations.


Celebrators gather outside of Hillman Library after the Steelers victory


Police arrest an individual on Bigelow Boulevard who was kicking down a sign from a traffic pole


People climb a traffic pole at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard

Police mounted on horses wait to deploy on South Bouquet Street


An overturned car on Oakland Avenue


A broken window at Bruegger's Bagels


Police stand in line at Caribou Coffee on Forbes Avenue, anticipating a long night


Smoking remnants of a burned couch on Atwood Street


Dumpster on Atwood Street

See the original post and more on Estelle's blog: transforumer.net