One person died after a vehicle crashed into the Multnomah Athletic Club, the nation’s largest private athletic and social club, in Portland, Oregon, early Saturday, and authorities said they found explosive devices — including some that had already detonated — at the scene.
The crash happened shortly before 3 a.m. while the club was closed, and no members or staff were injured, according to a statement from club spokesperson Adam Linnman. The facility, founded in 1891, counts more than 21,000 members.
Police said the person who died was found inside the vehicle after firefighters contained the resulting blaze. Jim DeFrain, a Portland police officer who supervises the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit, said investigators had recovered propane tanks and believe the explosive materials were brought by the vehicle that crashed.
“We feel this appears to be an isolated event,” Police Chief Bob Day told reporters at a Saturday afternoon news conference, though he and other officials said many details remained under investigation.
Authorities did not identify the person who died or describe a possible motive. The case is being handled by local and federal law enforcement.