A U-Haul truck drove into a crowd of demonstrators during an anti-Iranian regime rally in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, officials said. Police said the driver, an adult male, was detained as investigators work to determine what led to the incident.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the FBI is on scene working with the Los Angeles Police Department to establish the driver’s motive, describing it as an active investigation.
Two were evaluated at the scene as traffic impacted near the 405 ramp
The Los Angeles Fire Department said two people were evaluated at the scene and both declined treatment and transport. The demonstration took place in the Westwood neighborhood, where the California Highway Patrol requested LAPD assistance with traffic control, including shutting down the 405 Freeway ramp on Wilshire.
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Iran protest toll cited by rights group, but not independently verified
The incident unfolded as protests tied to Iran continued to draw attention abroad. A U.S.-based group, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), reported Sunday that more than 500 people have been killed in Iran’s mass protests, including 490 protesters and 48 members of security forces, and said at least 10,600 people have been arrested.
The media reported that it could not independently verify those figures, and the Iranian government has not released its own death toll during the unrest. HRANA also reported hundreds of protest locations across Iran and noted demonstrations have continued for more than two weeks since late December, initially fueled by economic grievances before expanding into broader anti-government protests.
Source:
Reuters / Truck plows into Los Angeles rally to support Iran demonstrations, KNBC reports
ABC7 Los Angeles / U-Haul drives into crowd during anti-Iranian regime rally, LAPD says
