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A protest in Los Angeles advocating for anti-regime demonstrators in Iran turned alarming when a U-Haul truck plowed into the crowd, injuring one individual. Authorities have since apprehended the driver, officials reported.
The unsettling event unfolded around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, taking place on Veteran Avenue close to the Federal Building in Westwood, as confirmed by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
“Around 15:30, a U-Haul truck driver collided with participants marching along Veteran Avenue near the Federal Building,” the LAPD detailed in their official statement.
Law enforcement disclosed that the male driver has been held in custody as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The person struck by the vehicle received immediate medical attention on site following the incident involving the U-Haul truck. (KTTV)
“At this time, one person was confirmed struck by the vehicle (an adult male); however, no significant injuries have been reported,” LAPD said. “A Rescue Ambulance treated the individual at the scene. No one has been transported to the hospital for medical treatment.”
Hundreds of people had gathered in the Westwood neighborhood as part of a march backing protesters in Iran, local outlet NBC4 Los Angeles reported.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a U-Haul truck moving quickly through a dense crowd as people screamed. In one video, a person appeared to hang onto the side of the vehicle and bang on a window as it continued moving.
A banner displayed on the side of the truck read, in all capital letters, “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH,” along with another banner written in a foreign language.
Additional video appeared to show the driver being punched as several people tried to pull him from the large truck. The vehicle’s windows were also smashed, according to NBC4 Los Angeles.
Law enforcement has not yet released the driver’s identity.
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
The protest comes amid ongoing unrest in Iran, where demonstrations that began over economic grievances have spread nationwide, evolving into a direct challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports 583 people have been killed since unrest erupted in Iran two weeks ago.
Solidarity protests with Iranian demonstrators have also emerged in major European cities, including Paris and Berlin. A protest also took place outside the White House in Washington, D.C.
