(This story has been updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Columbus police are responding after reports of armed people dressed as Nazis marching along the city's north side.
On Saturday around 1:15 p.m., several videos appeared on social media of about a dozen people, one with a megaphone, wearing all black with red face masks and black flags with red swastikas on them in the Short North.
Police responded at 1:12 p.m. to a report from a caller who said one of the people in the group was spraying pepper spray or mace at a passerby. Callers also reported that the group made racist comments toward people of color on the street, shouted about Jewish people and white power and appeared armed, police dispatchers said.
At 2:18 p.m., a Reddit user posted photos of what appeared to be Columbus police handcuffing a black-clad, bearded individual behind a U-Haul van near the on-ramp to State Route 315 and West Goodale Street. Police officials could not immediately confirm whether officers had arrested anyone.
Around 2:45 p.m., police dispatchers told The Dispatch that officers were still on scene and monitoring the situation. The group was said to have been in Franklinton around 3:15 p.m.
In a statement posted at 3:10 p.m. on go home and never come back. Your hatred is not welcome in our city.”
As of 4 p.m., police dispatchers could not confirm whether officers had arrested anyone, and a Columbus police spokesperson had not responded to a Dispatch reporter's call for more information.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Neo-Nazis with Swastika flags march through Columbus on Saturday
