A chilling scene unfolded in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon as a U-Haul truck careened into a crowd of demonstrators supporting protests in Iran. The incident, occurring near the Federal Building in Westwood, sent shockwaves through the gathering and left one person injured.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene around 3:30 p.m., confirming the truck collided with individuals marching along Veteran Avenue. Witnesses described a terrifying moment as the vehicle moved quickly through the dense crowd, triggering screams and chaos.
Authorities quickly detained the adult male driver as investigations began. Initial reports indicate the individual struck by the truck sustained no significant injuries, receiving treatment from paramedics at the scene and avoiding a hospital visit.
Hundreds had assembled in Westwood to express solidarity with those protesting the Iranian regime. Videos circulating online captured the harrowing event, showing a person desperately clinging to the side of the moving truck, pounding on the window in a desperate attempt to stop it.
The U-Haul itself bore a stark message, emblazoned with banners declaring “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH,” alongside text in another language. The vehicle’s windows were shattered, and the driver was reportedly confronted by protesters who attempted to pull him from the cab.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating unrest in Iran, where demonstrations initially sparked by economic concerns have evolved into a widespread challenge to the country’s leadership. The protests have gripped the nation for weeks, fueled by deep-seated discontent.
Reports from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency suggest a staggering toll, with 583 people killed since the unrest began. The struggle for change in Iran has resonated globally, inspiring solidarity protests in cities across Europe, including Paris and Berlin, and even outside the White House in Washington, D.C.
The identity of the U-Haul driver remains undisclosed as law enforcement continues to investigate the motives behind this disturbing act and its connection, if any, to the ongoing protests and political tensions.
