Los Angeles: Clashes broke out on Wednesday at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, as dozens of universities around the United States struggle to contain similar protests.
Protesters and counter-protesters were seen clashing with sticks, and tearing down metal barricades, TV footage showed.
Others were seen launching fireworks or hurling objects at each other in the dark — lit up with laser pointers and bright flashlights. Tear smoke was also fired at rival protesters.
The Los Angeles police department said on social media platform X that "officers have been deployed, and are currently on the UCLA campus, to assist in restoring order."
The force, which was still present in large numbers as of 4:00 am (1100GMT), had earlier said it was responding "due to multiple acts of violence within the large encampment" after the university asked for help to quell the clashes.
UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block warned ahead of clashes that protesters including "both members of the UCLA community and others unaffiliated with our campus" had set up a camp last week.
"Many of the demonstrators... have been peaceful in their activism," Block wrote in a letter posted on the university website on Tuesday.
"But the tactics of others have frankly been shocking and shameful. We have seen instances of violence," he said.
LA mayor Karen Bass said the violence was "absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable."
The unrest at UCLA comes after police cleared Columbia University's campus in New York City late Tuesday and evicted a building occupied by pro-Palestinian student protesters.
CNN cited the NYPD as saying more than 100 demonstrators had been arrested.
Police climbed into the barricaded Hamilton Hall via a second-floor window, before leading handcuffed students out of the building into vans.
colleges has been viewed around the world.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk voiced concern at the heavy-handed steps taken to disperse the campus protests, saying "freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly are fundamental to society." — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
