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- U-Haul drives into crowd at Los Angeles anti-Iranian regime protest (abcnews.go.com)
U-Haul Incident Shakes Anti-Iranian Regime Rally in Los Angeles; FBI Investigating
LOS ANGELES, CA – A U-Haul truck reportedly drove into a crowd of demonstrators during an anti-Iranian regime rally in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, according to officials. The incident, which occurred in the Westwood neighborhood, prompted a response from emergency services and has since drawn the attention of federal investigators.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that two individuals were assessed at the scene following the event. Both declined further medical treatment or transport.
The demonstration led to traffic disruptions, with the California Highway Patrol requesting assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department for traffic control, including the closure of the 405 Freeway ramp at Wilshire.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced via social media that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is actively investigating the incident.
“FBI is on scene working with LAPD to determine the motive of the driver. This is an active investigation and we will update the public when we have more information,” Essayli stated.
This incident in Los Angeles comes amid ongoing mass protests in Iran, where the death toll has reportedly surpassed 500 individuals. Data compiled by the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Sunday indicates the confirmed deaths of 490 protesters and 48 members of security forces.
Additionally, HRANA reports that at least 10,600 people have been arrested. It’s important to note that these figures cannot be independently verified, as the Iranian government has not released its own death tolls concerning the protests.
HRANA’s Saturday update documented 574 protest locations across 185 cities and all 31 provinces in Iran. Saturday marked the fourteenth consecutive day of widespread protests, though demonstrations have been occurring since late December.
Initially, protests in downtown Tehran focused on rising inflation and the devaluation of the national currency, the rial. As these demonstrations expanded, they have increasingly adopted an anti-government stance, with protesters chanting slogans such as “student, be the voice of your people,” and “death to Islamic Republic.”
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- U-Haul drives into crowd at Los Angeles anti-Iranian regime protest (abcnews.go.com)