Police are investigating an incident during which a person drove a U-Haul into a number of individuals on Sunday throughout a protest in Westwood towards the Iranian authorities.
The Los Angeles Fireplace Division mentioned two individuals have been evaluated on the scene and declined therapy. Police mentioned one grownup was confirmed struck by the automobile however didn’t maintain vital accidents, and no ambulances have been referred to as to the scene. The driving force of the truck, nevertheless, was injured within the chaos following the incident, in accordance with L.A. Police Capt. Richard Gabaldon.
Video Sunday afternoon confirmed protesters attempting to tug the suspect out of the automobile. As officers took him from the U-Haul and into custody, indignant protesters continued to punch and lash out at him.
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Demonstrators pounded on the truck and ripped off an indication connected to the automobile that had a message studying: “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah.”
Officers don’t imagine that the incident was politically motivated or an act of terrorism however stemmed from an altercation within the crowd, Gabaldon mentioned.
Among the many protesters was Abraham Moe and his spouse and daughter, Sanaz and Kiana, who’re Iranians. They instructed The Occasions they noticed the U-Haul truck making its into the gang and knew that one thing was fallacious when individuals began screaming. At that second, they mentioned, the protest rapidly grew to become a scene of worry and confusion.
The suspect has no arrest file, in accordance with Gabaldon, who mentioned the person may face a cost of assault with a lethal weapon.
The Fireplace Division mentioned that sources after the incident have been delayed because of the measurement of the teeming crowd close to the Wilshire Federal Constructing.
Protesters stand close to a U-Haul truck that drove into protesters in Westwood on Sunday.
(KNN.Information)
As many as 3,000 individuals had gathered for the protest in Westwood by round 3 p.m., in accordance with the L.A. Regional Transportation Administration Heart. A spokesperson mentioned the company shut down the northbound and southbound offramps to Wilshire Boulevard to stop protesters from doubtlessly taking up the freeway. The ramps remained closed till round 5 p.m., when the gang had largely dispersed.
The Los Angeles Police Division mentioned no ambulances have been referred to as to the scene after the incident.
A number of hours after the incident, Mayor Karen Bass arrived on the scene. Throughout a information convention, she voiced concern about U.S. intervention in worldwide conditions and emphasised the significance of maintaining protests peaceable “no matter how charged the problem is.”
“There’s lots of numerous protests which are occurring, and clearly we would like all people to train their 1st Modification proper,” Bass mentioned. “However how one does that’s essential, and exercising your 1st Modification proper peacefully is what is completely essential.”
In an announcement posted to X, First Assistant U.S. Atty. Invoice Essayli said the Division of Justice was conscious of the incident: “FBI is on scene working with LAPD to find out the motive of the motive force. That is an lively investigation and we are going to replace the general public when now we have extra data.”
Iran has been roiled by two weeks of protests. Activists say no less than 538 individuals are lifeless and greater than 10,000 have been arrested.
Kiana Moe, protesting in Westwood, mentioned the individuals of Iran are “protesting peacefully, and saying they don’t need this regime. The aim is for the liberty of Iran.”
“Individuals in Iran, they don’t have a voice proper now,” she mentioned.
A U-Haul truck is seen amid a crowd in Westwood close to the Wilshire Federal Constructing on Jan. 11, 2026.
(KNN.Information)
