A teenager has been arrested by the police for allegedly assaulting pro-Palestinian protesters at a encampment held at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The site was cleared by the police after more than two hours of brawling that occurred as a result of the attack three weeks ago.
Edan On, 18, has been arrested, which seems to be the first instance of a counter-protester involved in the campus chaos being apprehended.
In widely circulated images and videos of the chaos, Mr. On can be seen wearing a white hoodie and mask, wielding a wooden pole, and striking protesters.
The man who was arrested on Thursday morning by UCLA police has not been identified by name, according to the authorities. However, the arrest records indicate that Mr. On was the individual taken into custody.
He is currently in custody at a business located in Beverly Hills and is being held at a jail in Los Angeles County.
According to the LA County Sheriff’s Department, he is charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon.
According to a CNN report earlier this month, Mr. On’s mother initially claimed that her son was the individual wearing a white mask in the protest encampment videos. However, she later stated that he denied being present at the scene.
Mr. On, who is currently in his final year of high school, has expressed his intention to join the Israeli military, according to his statement.
On Friday, US media reached out to his family for a comment, but they chose not to provide any response.
The LA Sheriff’s Department official confirmed on Friday that he has been released on bond, pending trial.
US media reports indicate that his bond has been set at $30,000 (£24,000).
In a letter sent on Friday, the UCLA Office of Campus Safety confirmed that detectives from the campus police force have made their first arrest in the ongoing investigation into the April 30 assaults that took place on the campus.
UCLA is dedicated to thoroughly investigating all instances of violence and is actively striving to identify any other individuals involved in violent activities connected to the protests.
The statement emphasized that the individuals responsible for the violence against our community will be held fully accountable under the law.
The clashes on 30 April lasted for hours, sparking intense criticism of the university police force.
Over 200 protesters who supported the Palestinian cause and refused to leave the encampment were subsequently arrested.
The university faced criticism earlier this week for not stopping the violence, which led to the removal of its campus police chief.
Protest movements against the war in Gaza have emerged at universities across the United States.
The violence at UCLA was truly shocking to Americans.
Hours after New York City police raided and cleared a Columbia University building that had been taken over by students, another incident occurred.
Last Thursday, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block appeared before Congress in Washington DC to provide testimony regarding the university’s response to the protests.
While he was speaking, protesters on campus set up a second encampment, blocked access to buildings, and engaged in acts of vandalism, according to the university’s statement on Friday.
The university instructed the protesters to leave or risk being arrested. According to the university, the protesters chose to disperse voluntarily, and no arrests were made.
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