Man Detained After Driving Truck Through Anti-Iran Protest in Los Angeles

A truck driver has been detained in Los Angeles after speeding down a street filled with people demonstrating in support of protesters in Iran. The incident occurred on Sunday during a protest along Veteran Avenue in the Westwood neighborhood, where demonstrators had gathered to show solidarity with antigovernment protesters in Iran.

According to police, one person was hit by the truck but suffered no serious injuries. The driver, whose identity has not been released, was stopped several blocks away and surrounded by police cars. Footage from a local news helicopter showed officers attempting to stop demonstrators from approaching the vehicle after they had chased it down the street.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that two people were evaluated by paramedics following the incident but declined further treatment. The protest in Los Angeles is part of a global movement supporting Iranian protesters, who have been demonstrating against the government since December 28. The demonstrations began as an economic response to the decline in value of the Iranian rial and have since evolved into broader antigovernment protests.

The United States West Coast city has one of the largest Iranian communities outside of Iran, and the protest was initially allowed to take place before a dispersal order was issued. By early evening, only about 100 protesters remained in the area. State media reported that 109 security personnel have been killed during the latest unrest, although authorities have not confirmed the number of demonstrators who have lost their lives.

Source: Al Jazeera