'Anarchists' create overnight havoc on Capitol Hill

Several hundred anarchists swarmed through the Capitol Hill area overnight, noisily vandalizing stores and smashing windows before dispersing into the darkness.

(For photos, check out more at KOMONEWS.com)

Police say the drama began shortly after midnight Sunday when a flash mob gathered, passing out flyers, during a dance party. But the mob soon went out of control, creating havoc, said Renee Witt of the Seattle Police Department.

The anarchists marched down 12th Avenue and Broadway, yelling and chanting. Some carried rainbow flags, while others carried red-and-black flags and wore masks.

Eventually some people started smashing store windows, damaging property, spray-painting slogans and bashing in the windshield of a patrol car.

During the melee, a bank ATM also was damaged. Windows were smashed and spray-painted at an American Apparel store and at a luxury car dealership.

Officers swooped in, arming themselves with gas masks and riot gear. At least one person was arrested, Witt said. Witnesses said police used a Taser on one woman.

After a while, the mob dispersed as quickly as it appeared.

Police say the mob action did not appear to be directly connected to gay pride festivities taking place in the area.

But a rambling post on the anarchists' website said the idea of the flash mob was to protest the assimilation of gay pride into the commercial mainstream.