SEATTLE - Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency order Wednesday morning directing protesters to leave the area of the CHOP, Capitol Hill Organized Protest, and Cal Anderson Park area. More than 20 protesters were arrested, police said.

Officers in riot gear moved in to the area at 5:00 a.m. and issued a dispersal order over the loudspeaker.

Police said on Twitter at 8:00 a.m. that 23 people were arrested for failure to disperse, obstruction, resisting arrest, and assault.

"One of the arrestees, a 29-year-old man, was in possession of a large metal pipe and kitchen knife when he was taken into custody," police said.

Officers were also investigating several vehicles circling the area as police moved in after police saw people inside them “with firearms/armor,” police said in a tweet, adding that the vehicles did not appear to have “visible license plates.”