It was gathered that the pro-Israel counterprotesters had "violently" tried to enter the pro-Palestine protesters’ encampment, leading to a chaotic clash.
The University of California campus in Los Angeles (UCLA) has reportedly been thrown into chaos as counterdemonstrators attacked an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at the university.
Pro-Palestine protests against the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza have been going on in university and college campuses across the US.
Newsweek reports that late Tuesday, a large group of counterdemonstrators in black outfits and white masks entered the campus and tried to tear down barricades around the protesters’ encampment.
It was gathered that the pro-Israel counterprotesters had "violently" tried to enter the pro-Palestine protesters’ encampment, leading to a chaotic clash.
A video posted on X platform by Daily Bruin student newspaper, showed fireworks being set off and at least one going into the encampment.
The paper wrote on X, "Pro-Israel counterprotesters violently clashed with the pro-Palestine encampment," adding that "There are reports of tear gas being used and fireworks being set off in Dickson Plaza."
Newsweek reports that the clashes went on for more than two hours before police officers arrived on campus.
Dozens of officers were reportedly seen marching toward the site of the encampment at around 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday.
The LAPD wrote on X that "At the request of UCLA, due to multiple acts of violence within the large encampment on their campus, the LAPD is responding to assist UCLA PD, and other law enforcement agencies, to restore order and maintain public safety."
The LAPD in another post added that “We can confirm that LAPD officers have been deployed, and are currently on the UCLA campus, to assist in restoring order. We are working in partnership with UCLA PD and other law enforcement agencies.”