U-Haul Truck Drives Through Crowd at LA Protest
During a protest in Los Angeles supporting Iranian anti-regime demonstrators, a U-Haul truck drove into a crowd, causing injuries to one individual and leading to the driver’s arrest, according to local authorities.
The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday near the Federal Building, situated along Veterans Avenue in the Westwood neighborhood, as reported by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
“At around 3:30 p.m., a driver operating a U-Haul collided with protesters marching along Veterans Avenue,” the LAPD stated. An adult male was taken into custody for further investigation.
Authorities confirmed that while one adult male was involved in the collision, there were no serious injuries reported. An ambulance treated the victim on-site, and fortunately, no one needed hospitalization.
Hundreds had gathered in Westwood to participate in the march supporting demonstrators in Iran, as detailed in reports from local news outlets.
On social media, videos surfaced showing the U-Haul speeding through a throng of people. In one clip, a person could be seen clinging to the side of the truck, banging on the window as it drove away.
One side of the truck prominently displayed a message reading, “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH,” with some banners featuring foreign languages.
Additional footage revealed the driver being attacked as bystanders attempted to pull him from the vehicle. Reports also noted a smashed car window during the chaos.
As of now, the identity of the driver has not been disclosed by law enforcement.
The protests coincided with ongoing unrest in Iran, which had initially begun due to economic issues, posing a significant challenge to the country’s clerical leadership.
The Human Rights Defenders News Agency, based in the US, has reported that 583 people have died since the violence began two weeks ago. Solidarity protests have also emerged in major European cities, including Paris and Berlin, as well as outside the White House in Washington, DC.
