Los Angeles, California – A violent attack on a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, has led to the arrest of an 18-year-old man who is not affiliated with the school. The attack, which occurred last month, resulted in injuries to at least 15 individuals, with conflicting reports from pro-Palestinian supporters putting the number closer to 25.
After weeks of investigation, UCLA police detained the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Edan On, at a business in Beverly Hills. Videos circulated online showed On wearing a white mask and hoodie, assaulting a pro-Palestinian demonstrator with a wooden pole during the attack on the encampment on campus. UCLA officials have described the incident as involving a “group of instigators.”
In response to criticism for the handling of the attack, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block expressed regret over the delay in law enforcement intervention. He acknowledged that the violence should have been addressed more promptly to protect the safety of the campus community. Following the incident, the police chief at UCLA was reassigned pending a review of security protocols.
In a Facebook post written in Hebrew, On’s mother acknowledged that her son was involved in the attack on Palestinian students at UCLA, though she later stated that he denies being present at the scene. Despite attempts to establish a new encampment at the university, protesters were ordered to disperse, leading to a small group staging a sit-in inside a building that was later cleared out by officers.
The arrest of On follows an extensive investigation that included interviews with victims and witnesses, as well as the review of security camera footage and publicly available videos. University police are continuing to investigate all reported acts of violence associated with protest or counterprotest activities since the incident on April 25.