Los Angeles police intervened and took action on Sunday when a man drove a U-Haul box truck into a crowd of protesters supporting the Iranian people. The demonstrators scattered in fear and then chased the speeding vehicle, attempting to attack the driver.
The U-Haul truck was stopped several blocks away and surrounded by police vehicles, with its windows and side glass shattered. ABC7 News helicopter footage showed officers controlling the crowd and keeping them at a distance while encircling the truck. People in the crowd punched the driver and attacked him through the driver’s side window.
In a statement Sunday evening, police said the driver had been taken into custody—his identity not disclosed—and that the “investigation is ongoing.” The statement noted one person was struck by the truck but no one suffered serious injuries. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that paramedics evaluated two individuals, both of whom refused treatment.
In the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, along Veteran Avenue, a large crowd of protesters gathered Sunday afternoon to demonstrate against Iranian theocracy, with some waving Iranian flags. Police eventually ordered them to disperse, and ABC7 reported that by 5 p.m., only about 100 protesters remained in the area.
Activists say the crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has resulted in over 530 deaths. In Iran’s capital and other major cities like Tehran, protesters took to the streets again on Sunday. Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran.
