In a shocking incident at Portland State University (PSU) in Oregon, a man drove his car towards a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters and sprayed a chemical agent, resembling pepper spray, before fleeing the scene. The incident occurred on Thursday night, following clashes between police and protesters.

Earlier in the day, tensions escalated when protesters refused to vacate the campus area and reoccupied a campus building, which had previously been occupied for several days. In response, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) embarked on an operation to clear the campus library, resulting in the arrest of at least 30 individuals.

According to a social media post by the PPB, university police managed to locate the driver of the car who had stopped near the crowd and discharged the pepper spray. The adult male was subsequently transported to a local hospital under a police mental health hold. Further details about the identity of the man are yet to be released by both Portland State University and the PPB.

In the aftermath of the incident, the car was found vandalized, with its windows broken and items scattered nearby, a report from KATU2 stated.

The operation to clear the campus library began at 6 a.m. on Thursday, with PPB officers undertaking a meticulous sweep of the building. Throughout the process, officers encountered multiple barricades, primarily composed of stacked furniture, and encountered slippery floors designed to impede their progress.

Police shared pictures online, showcasing the graffiti within the building, as well as tools that appeared to be improvised weapons, including ball bearings, paint balloons, spray bottles of ink, and DIY armor. However, the PPB clarified that none of these items were used against law enforcement officials.

Later in the day, police confirmed that trespassers had torn down a fence surrounding the library and reentered the building, leading to additional arrests. Some individuals who refused to vacate the outdoor area adjacent to the library were also apprehended.

These incidents at PSU reflect the ongoing wave of protests occurring on college campuses nationwide, as students and community members call on their institutions to divest from Israeli companies or companies involved in supplying weapons to Israel for its conflict against Hamas.

Moreover, the wave of college encampments has resulted in over 2,000 arrests across the country. Concurrently, at Columbia University, hundreds of riot gear-clad police officers intervened on campus after protesters occupied one of the university's buildings.

Further updates and information regarding the incident at Portland State University are awaited from the university and the Portland Police Bureau.