United States of America

U-Haul Drives Into Crowd at LA Iran Protest

Was the U-Haul incident a deliberate attack on protesters, or potentially a confrontation that escalated within the crowd?

Published JAN 12

U-Haul Drives Into Crowd at LA Iran Protest

Story

Above: A U-Haul truck was driven into a crowd during a "Free Iran" rally in Los Angeles on Jan. 11. Image credit: Jonathan Alcorn/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

A U-Haul truck drove into a crowd of demonstrators in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, during a protest supporting Iranian anti-government activists. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time.
USA Today
FOX News
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that two people were evaluated at the scene for injuries but both declined transport to the hospital. Police confirmed one adult male was struck by the vehicle but did not sustain significant injuries.
Al Jazeera
FOX News
The truck displayed banners reading "No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don't Repeat 1953. No Mullah," in English, along with messages in Arabic. Protesters surrounded the vehicle and ripped off the signs after it stopped.
NBC Los Angeles
GB News
Video footage showed demonstrators breaking the truck's windows and attempting to pull the driver from the vehicle. As police officers escorted the detained driver away, some protesters tried to punch him and strike him with flagpoles.
The Mirror
New York Post
Los Angeles police officials stated they did not believe the incident was politically motivated or an act of terrorism, but rather stemmed from an altercation in the crowd. The FBI assisted LAPD's Major Crimes detectives in the investigation.
Los Angeles Times
The Jerusalem Post
The demonstration drew an estimated 3,000 people showing solidarity with protesters in Iran, where the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported over 580 deaths since unrest began. Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian population outside Iran.
CBS News
Sky News Australia

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The U-Haul incident stemmed from an altercation within the crowd itself, and it hasn't yet proven to be a politically motivated attack or act of terrorism against protesters. Authorities indicated that this wasn't the deliberate assault being portrayed but rather a confrontation that escalated.

NBC Los Angeles

Los Angeles Times

Narrative B

A U-Haul driver deliberately plowed into thousands of peaceful anti-regime protesters in Los Angeles, creating absolute chaos and injuring multiple people in a horrifying attack. The truck bore political messages and barreled through the crowd in broad daylight, forcing terrified demonstrators to flee for their lives. This violent assault on people exercising their right to protest in solidarity with Iranian freedom fighters deserves the harshest possible charges.

Sky News Australia

Nick Sortor on X