In a recent development, an 18-year-old man has been arrested by campus police at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for allegedly assaulting a pro-Palestinian encampment. The incident took place on April 30 at the Royce Quad, where a "group of instigators" targeted encampment occupants, including students, faculty, and staff.

According to the UCLA police, the group engaged in violent acts, and one person was captured on video using a wooden pole to assault encampment occupants. This left one individual seriously injured. The arrested man, identified as Edan On, was apprehended at a business in Beverly Hills and booked for felony assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently being held at the Los Angeles County jail on a $30,000 bail.

Eyewitnesses reported chaos unfolding during the attack, with the aggressors spraying aerosol irritants, tearing down barricades, and beating people with metal poles and wooden planks. Fireworks were also launched, creating a highly dangerous situation. Former student Ismael Sindha, who witnessed the incident, described people crying, lying on the floor, and bleeding from their heads.

Criticism has arisen concerning the response time of law enforcement officers who arrived hours after the clash began. As a consequence, UCLA police chief John Thomas has been temporarily reassigned pending a review of the security processes. The university authorities have yet to announce his new role. In the interim, Gawin Gibson has been named as the acting chief of police at UCLA.

The unrest at UCLA is part of a larger trend seen across U.S. college campuses, where pro-Palestinian protests have emerged in response to the ongoing Israel and Hamas conflict. Campuses have been witnessing intensified divisions, often resulting in clashes with law enforcement. The war and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza have sparked demonstrations and counterprotests in various academic institutions.

Mary Osako, UCLA's vice chancellor for strategic communications, revealed that efforts are underway to identify other individuals involved in protests or counterprotest activities that occurred between April 25 and May 2.

As the investigation continues, UCLA aims to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all members of its community while addressing concerns raised by these incidents.