Occupy Oakland: Police in riot gear reportedly fire tear gas

Police in riot gear reportedly were firing projectiles, possibly tear gas, at Occupy Oakland protesters early Thursday near the downtown area, according to a media report.

The Oakland Tribune said there were reports of tear gas being used near 17th Street and Broadway.

Earlier, protesters used tires, garbage cans and pallets to build a makeshift barricade at 16th and Broadway, near a vacant office they had taken over, according to the Tribune.

PHOTOS: Occupy protests around the nation

About 50 officers appeared to be organizing at 20th Street and San Pablo. The agencies involved included the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department, which brought a bus used for transporting prisoners.

Police were observed donning helmets and readying handcuffs. Some of them were preparing to get into white vans, the Tribune reported in a live blog from the scene.

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-- Lee Romney in Oakland and Robert J. Lopez in Los Angeles

Photo: Occupy Oakland demonstrators light a bonfire early Thursday. Credit: Stephen Lam / Reuters