Dramatic new video has captured the moment a car packed with explosives smashed through the lobby of a Portland athletic club in the early hours of Saturday morning. It triggered a fiery blast that left the building's ground floor in ruins and killed the driver, who law enforcement described as a 'disgruntled former employee'.
The Incident
Security footage appears to show a dark SUV barreling through the front entrance of the Multnomah Athletic Club, shattering glass and plowing past turnstiles as it tore across the lobby. The clips, obtained by The Oregonian, do not show the explosion itself but capture the disturbing seconds leading up to it.
Authorities say the chaos unfolded just before 3am in Portland's Goose Hollow neighborhood. The driver, who has not been publicly identified, was found dead inside the wreckage after detonating the explosives.
Investigators believe the suspect was a former employee of the club who deliberately targeted the facility. Two law enforcement sources said the individual had rented a black Nissan Rogue the day before and used it to ram into the building before setting off the explosives.
Explosive Devices
Those devices are believed to have included propane tanks and pipe bombs, although only some detonated, according to the same sources. The impact was devastating. One source described the ground floor as 'completely destroyed,' with damage costs expected to run into the millions.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as flames tore through the entrance, with authorities quickly shutting down surrounding streets and establishing a large perimeter. Police later confirmed the Explosive Disposal Unit recovered evidence of explosive materials inside the car.
No Other Injuries
Despite the scale of the destruction, no other injuries were reported. In a message to members, club general manager Charles Leverton confirmed that the video had been circulating 'without authorization,' as he acknowledged the shock rippling through the community.
'While much remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing, it is clear that this is a difficult moment for our entire community,' Leverton wrote. 'MAC has always been more than a building. It is a place where relationships are formed and people come together in good times and in challenging ones. Today is one of those moments where the strength of the community matters most.'
Club Closure and Previous Incident
The club has been closed indefinitely following what it described as a 'significant incident,' with all programs, services and activities canceled until further notice. 'Our priority is ensuring the club is safe before welcoming our community back,' the organization said in a follow-up statement, adding it is cooperating fully with the Portland Police Bureau and Portland Fire & Rescue.
Bizarrely, this is not the first time a car has crashed into the Multnomah this month. On April 8, a driver sideswiped a car and veered into the club's property. A security guard walking on the sidewalk suffered a lower leg injury. Police said at the time that they did not suspect the crash was a result of criminal activity. It does not appear that the two instances are related.
Multnomah Athletic Club is the largest private athletic and social club in the US, with a membership of over 21,000 people. Membership fees are $280 for an individual per month and $422 for a family. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Portland Police Bureau for more information and to Multnomah for comment.
