Chaos erupted in a Los Angeles neighbourhood on Sunday after a driver piloted a large rental truck into a street packed with demonstrators protesting Iran's government. The incident, which occurred during an anti-Iranian regime rally in Westwood, sent marchers scrambling for safety before some gave chase and attacked the vehicle.
Chaotic Scene in Westwood
On the afternoon of January 11, 2026, several hundred people had gathered in the Westwood area of Los Angeles to voice their support for the Iranian people and protest the theocratic regime. The demonstration was one of many held globally following a violent crackdown on protests inside Iran, which activists say has killed more than 530 people. As the crowd marched, a U-Haul box truck drove down the crowded street, forcing protesters to leap out of its path.
Vehicle Stopped and Surrounded
According to footage from an ABC7 news helicopter, the situation escalated rapidly after the initial drive-through. The U-Haul truck, with its side mirrors shattered, was stopped several blocks away from the initial incident. It was quickly surrounded by Los Angeles Police Department patrol cars. The footage showed a tense standoff as officers worked to keep an angry crowd at bay.
Demonstrators swarmed the stationary truck, with some individuals throwing punches at the driver and thrusting flagpoles through the driver's side window. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that two people were evaluated by paramedics at the scene, but both declined further medical treatment.
Police Response and Dispersal
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed its officers responded to the scene but did not immediately state whether any arrests were made in connection with the truck's drive through the crowd or the subsequent attack on its driver. As tensions remained high, police eventually issued an official dispersal order for the area.
By 5 p.m., the crowd had significantly diminished, with only about a hundred protesters remaining at the scene, according to ABC7's reporting. The incident in Los Angeles unfolded on the same day that protesters again flooded the streets in Iran's capital, Tehran, and its second-largest city, highlighting the ongoing, widespread dissent against the regime.
