Los Angeles U-Haul breaks through anti-Iranian protests
In Westwood, a man in a U-Haul truck plows through a crowd of protesters marching in support of regime change in Iran.
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At least two people were injured when a driver plowed a U-Haul truck showing support for Iranian protesters into a crowd in Los Angeles on January 11, authorities and fire officials said.
Hundreds of people supporting Iranian protesters were demonstrating in Los Angeles’ Westwood neighborhood near the federal building when a U-Haul truck plowed into the group, KNBC and KABC television reported. Local television stations reported chaotic scenes of large crowds of people surrounding the truck.
“We can confirm that a U-Haul truck drove through a group of protesters this afternoon,” Los Angeles Police Department told USA TODAY. “We are still gathering information and do not know the number of injuries at this time.”
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, two people were examined at the scene, but both refused to be taken to a hospital.
No other injuries were reported and the crowd had “voluntarily dispersed” by around 4:43 p.m. local time, the fire department said. Earlier, the fire department had reported that large crowds were slowing response times.
Video shared on social media showed protesters trying to pull the driver out of the U-Haul before officers took him into custody. Authorities have not released the identity of the driver.
Video also showed a car window being smashed and angry protesters attempting to punch the driver as police escorted him away. The Los Angeles Times reported that protesters stormed the U-Haul and ripped off a sign attached to the vehicle that read in Arabic and English: “No Shah, No Regime, America: No Repeat, No Mullahs of 1953.”
Protesters are marching in support of anti-government protests in Iran, which are now in their third week and have left hundreds dead. Human rights groups condemned the violent crackdown.
As of January 11, Human Rights Defenders News Agency estimates that more than 580 people have been killed since the uprising began in the Middle Eastern country. According to human rights groups, more than 10,600 people have been detained by authorities.
Iran does not release official statistics. A government-imposed internet blackout has cut off much communication with people in the country since January 8, disrupting the flow of information.
Contributor: Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY. Reuters
