U‑Haul truck speeds through LA Iran protest crowd; driver detained as protesters swarm vehicle
Shortly before 3:30 p.m., a U‑Haul box truck drove into a crowd of marchers about a block from the Wilshire Federal Building near Veteran and Ohio avenues during a large anti‑Iranian‑regime rally, video shows protesters scrambling as the vehicle appeared to speed through the crowd; footage then captures demonstrators swarming and attacking the stopped driver, pulling him from the cab and thrusting flagpoles through the driver’s‑side window, and the truck bore a banner reading “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah.” LAPD says one person was struck and LAFD evaluated two people who declined transport; police detained the unidentified driver pending further investigation by LAPD Major Crimes with assistance from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI, and remained on scene overnight.
📌 Key Facts
- Shortly before 3:30 p.m., a U‑Haul box truck drove into a crowd about a block from the Wilshire Federal Building near Veteran Avenue and Ohio Avenue in Los Angeles.
- The truck sped down a street crowded with marchers demonstrating in support of the Iranian people/against the Iranian regime, causing protesters to scramble out of the way.
- The rally drew thousands outside the Wilshire Federal Building, with demonstrators chanting “Free Iran” and “End the regime” and carrying a block‑long Iranian flag.
- Video and ABC7 helicopter footage show demonstrators swarming the stopped truck, pulling and punching the driver and thrusting flagpoles through the driver’s‑side window before police held the crowd back.
- LAPD officers pulled a man from the cab; police say the unidentified driver was detained and is being questioned/pending further investigation.
- Officials say one person was hit by the truck but no one was seriously hurt; LAFD evaluated two people at the scene who both declined hospital transport, and a search for a suspected third victim turned up none.
- LAPD Major Crimes detectives are leading the investigation with assistance from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI, and authorities expected to remain on scene overnight.
- A banner on the truck read “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah,” referencing the 1953 U.S.‑backed coup in Iran.
📊 Relevant Data
In the ongoing Iranian protests from 2022 to 2026, young people under 30 years old have been at the forefront, constituting over 60% of Iran's population and driving more frequent demands for freedoms amid economic and social grievances.
Protests Grow More Frequent As Young Iranians Demand More Freedoms, Experts Say — Duke Today
Ethnic minorities, such as the Lur group, have been disproportionately affected by the crackdown on protests in Iran, with recent fatalities occurring largely in cities home to these groups, amid a geography of protest showing increased ethnic mobilization.
Deaths reported during widening protests in Iran sparked by ailing economy — NPR
A 2025 poll shows that 62% of Iranian Americans believe the U.S. should focus more on human rights in Iran, indicating strong support within the diaspora for addressing regime abuses.
Views of the Iranian-American Community: NIAC-YouGov Poll May-June 2025 Full Report — National Iranian American Council
Iranian Americans exhibit divided political leanings, with some supporting Republican candidates like Trump for a harder stance against the Iranian regime, as evidenced by the launch of 'Iranians for Trump' in 2024.
'Iranians for Trump' movement launches ahead of US elections — Iran International
Between May 2020 and September 2020, there were at least 104 vehicle-ramming incidents at U.S. protests, with some cases leading to protesters retaliating against drivers, though specific statistics on post-ramming attacks by protesters are limited.
Cars hit people 104 times at BLM protests since George Floyd's death — USA Today
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- AP specifies that the U‑Haul box truck drove down a street 'crowded with marchers' demonstrating in support of the Iranian people, causing protesters to scramble out of the way.
- Los Angeles police say one person was hit by the truck but that no one was seriously hurt; LAFD reports two people were evaluated by paramedics and both declined treatment.
- ABC7 helicopter footage described by AP shows demonstrators swarming the stopped truck, throwing punches at the driver and thrusting flagpoles through the driver’s‑side window before police held the crowd back.
- Police confirm the driver, an unidentified man, was detained 'pending further investigation.'
- AP notes a banner on the truck reading “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah,” tying the incident to references to the 1953 U.S.-backed coup in Iran.
- Confirms time and place: the truck drove into a crowd about a block from the Wilshire Federal Building near Veteran Avenue and Ohio Avenue shortly before 3:30 p.m.
- Los Angeles Fire Department treated two injured people at the scene; both declined hospital transport, and a search for a suspected third victim turned up no additional casualties.
- Video shows LAPD officers pulling a man from the cab, detaining him as some in the crowd appear to attack him; police say the truck’s driver is being questioned but have not yet reported an arrest.
- LAPD Major Crimes detectives are leading the investigation with assistance from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI, and authorities expect to remain on scene overnight.
- The rally drew thousands outside the Wilshire Federal Building, with demonstrators chanting 'Free Iran' and 'End the regime' and carrying a block‑long Iranian flag.