Police in riot gear attempted to dismantle the anti-Israel encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles campus Thursday, spraying tear gas as they faced off with violent protesters wielding fire extinguishers and pepper spray.
Flashbangs echoed across the Los Angeles campus as California Highway Patrol was seen taking apart the tent setup, CNN reported.
The protesters had previously put up a makeshift wall around the site in a last-ditch effort to curb the incursion, while police in riot gear with gas masks, batons, and zip ties appeared to easily break through the fray, the outlet added.
Police previously warned the demonstrators that they risked serious injury if they refused to evacuate, FOX News Digital reported. 3 Police make an arrest as they face-off with anti-Israel protesters. AFP via Getty Images 3 Demonstrator aiming a fire extinguisher at law enforcement officials during a protest in support of Palestinians at the University of California Los Angeles. REUTERS 3 Law enforcement officers hold weapons as they storm the encampment at UCLA. REUTERS
Within a few minutes, some protesters were spotted kneeling on the ground with their hands zip tied behind their backs, CNN said.
The detained protesters were loaded onto buses on campus, the outlet explained.Some defiant participants allegedly aimed pepper or bear spray at the officers, NewsNations Nancy Loo wrote on X.
Others wielded fire extinguishers, news station KTLA reported.