A U-Haul truck plowed directly into a crowd of anti-Iranian regime demonstrators in Los Angeles, injuring two people, according to The Hill. This is absolutely awful news coming out of the Westwood neighborhood, where the truck collided with individuals who were marching near the Wilshire Federal Building.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the incident happened around 3:30 PM local time. Police were able to detain the driver quickly, but they emphasized that the incident is currently under active investigation to determine what exactly led to the collision. The situation is serious enough that the FBI is now getting involved to find out why the driver targeted the protesters.
Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, confirmed the federal involvement. He posted online that the “FBI is on the scene working with LAPD to determine the motive of the driver.” He noted that the investigation remains active and promised the public would be updated soon. While two people were injured in the collision, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that both individuals were evaluated right there on the scene and declined transport to a hospital.
It’s a miracle that the injuries weren’t worse, given the scale of the vehicle involved
This violent incident in Los Angeles happened right in the middle of massive, ongoing protests against the Iranian regime, which are the largest demonstrations the country has seen since 2022. That original wave of protest was sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while she was in police custody.
The anti-regime movement has spread far and wide. Reports indicate that protests have taken place in 186 cities, spanning all 31 provinces across the country. Unfortunately, the cost of these demonstrations has been incredibly high. At least 544 people have been killed during the protests, and more than 10,600 individuals have been arrested. It’s hard to imagine the level of turmoil people are facing there.
Meanwhile, President Trump is taking a hard line on the situation overseas. He has warned Iran against continued use of lethal force against the protesters. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, President Trump said, “There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed.” He added that the military is looking at the situation “very seriously.” The president confirmed that they are reviewing “some strong options and we’re going to making a determination.”
Of course, the Iranian government isn’t staying silent in the face of these threats. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf vowed immediate retaliation if President Trump follows through on any potential attack. Qalibaf, speaking during a parliament session broadcast live, stated that “In the event of an attack on Iran, both [Israel] and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets.” That’s a serious threat that raises the stakes significantly.
It’s worth noting that this U-Haul incident targeting the Iranian regime protesters wasn’t the only demonstration happening in the U.S. over the weekend. Protests against the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement also took place in various cities across the country. Those protests were in response to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Published: Jan 12, 2026 11:30 am