Police have begun an operation to clear the last pro-Palestinian protesters from an encampment on the UCLA campus.
Thursday morning’s law enforcement effort comes after officers spent hours threatening arrests over loud speakers if people did not disperse. Hundreds of people had gathered on campus, both inside a barricaded tent encampment and outside of it in support.
The stand-off comes a night after the UCLA encampment was attacked by counter-protesters wielding sticks and throwing fireworks.
The demonstration is part of a nationwide college protest movement against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Follow the latest updates below.
11:49AM
Pictured: Police move in on protest camp
11:38AM
300-500 protesters remain in reinforcd protest camp
Between 300 to 500 protesters were hunkered down inside the protest camp at UCLA, local television station KABC-TV estimated.
Around 2,000 more had gathered outside the barricades in support, it said.
Some protesters had been seen donning hard hats, goggles and respirator masks in anticipation of the siege a day after the university declared the encampment unlawful.
Empty buses were parked near the university to take away protesters who refuse to comply with the order to disperse.
11:34AM
Pre-dawn police raid is latest flashpoint in protests
The pre-dawn police crackdown at UCLA is the latest flashpoint amid mounting tensions on US university campuses.
Protests over Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza have led to clashes across the country.
The chaotic scenes at UCLA came after New York police burst into a building occupied by anti-war protesters at Columbia University on Tuesday night, breaking up a demonstration that had paralysed the school.
11:29AM
Police begin dismantling protest camp
Police have begun removing barricades at a pro-Palestinian demonstrators’ encampment on the UCLA campus.
Law enforcement made a massive display, sending in columns of officers who were closing in on all sides of the encampment. Members of the crowd flashed lights in the officers faces and screamed insults at them.
Officers had threatened the protesters with arrest if they did not disperse.
11:27AM
Police and protesters face off at UCLA encampment
Protesters and police were locked in a tense stand-off at UCLA as officers prepared to clear out a pro-Palestine encampment, write Raoul Simons.
Scuffles broke out after several hundred California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear arrived at the campus in several buses at around 530am on Thursday.
Bottles and other items were thrown at police officers amid chants of “We’re not leaving! You don’t scare us!”
An order for protesters to leave or face arrest was repeated over a loudspeaker by an officer.
While some obeyed the order and left, a large number of others refused to go.
In response, police formed a line to prevent any more protesters from entering the encampment.
The stand-off comes a night after the UCLA encampment was attacked by counter-protesters wielding sticks and throwing fireworks.
The demonstration is part of a nationwide college protest movement against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The post UCLA protest live: Police officers move in to disperse pro-Palestine camp appeared first on The Telegraph.