WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES — A protest that began peacefully outside the federal building in Westwood turned chaotic on Sunday afternoon after a U-Haul box truck drove toward a crowd of demonstrators rallying in solidarity with protesters in Iran.
Footage from the scene shows the truck moving down Veteran Avenue at around 3.30pm local time, prompting screams as people rushed out of its path. Moments later, police officers pulled the driver from the vehicle while protesters surrounded the truck, striking it with objects and damaging the windshield.
Police detain driver as crowd surges
After the driver was removed, tensions escalated as demonstrators chased him and attempted to hit him while officers escorted him away and took him into custody. Political messages on the truck were torn down as the confrontation spilled across the street.
Authorities said one protester suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver was also injured and taken to hospital, and police said he is expected to face charges including attempted assault with a deadly weapon. A dispersal order was later issued as the crowd thinned into the evening.
U-Haul Truck Drives Into Anti-Iran Regime Protest Crowd in Los Angeles
— Police Incidents (@PoliceIncident) January 12, 2026
On January 11, 2026, in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, a U-Haul truck drove into a crowd of hundreds of demonstrators during a peaceful anti-Iranian regime protest (also described as in support of… pic.twitter.com/a8MoVKdeZa
Local reporting by ABC7 Los Angeles described officers removing the driver as protesters surrounded the vehicle and damaged its windows. National coverage from The Associated Press said the truck sped through marchers, after which protesters ran after it and tried to attack the driver before police detained him several blocks away.
Rally tied to Iran unrest and crackdown
The Westwood rally drew hundreds of people demonstrating in support of protests in Iran, where activists and news reports have described mass detentions and a rising death toll during a government crackdown. The AP report said one person was struck by the truck, but no serious injuries were reported.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass urged protesters of all viewpoints to keep demonstrations peaceful, warning that a charged environment is no excuse for violence on the streets, according to ABC7.
Investigators have not publicly detailed a motive, and officials said the inquiry remains ongoing. Reuters reported the circumstances and any injuries were still being clarified early in the response. See: Reuters coverage.
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