US campus protests LIVE: Violence breaks out UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment after 100 protesters are arrested at Columbia University when police storm student occupation

Journalists covering the violent disorder at UCLA in Los Angeles have reported that multiple people have been tear gassed which has forced police officers to use gas masks.

Anthony Cabassa, who describes himself as an independent journalist, said some protesters had been “maced” during the conflict as altercations broke out in front of police.

Among regular updates posted to X, Mr Cabassa posted footage which appeared to show LAPD officers putting on gas masks at the scene.

Dylan Winward, a student journalist with the Daily Bruin, the UCLA student newspaper, said he had been “tear-gassed” while covering the clashes.

Pro-Palestinian are said to have built the encampment at the UCLA campus using plywood and barriers almost a week ago but the site was declared unlawful by the university on Tuesday.

Explaining its decision, UCLA wrote: “The established encampment is unlawful and violates university policy. Law enforcement is prepared to arrest individuals in accordance with applicable law. Non-UCLA persons are notified to leave the encampment and depart the campus immediately.”

Anyone choosing to remain at the encampment risked facing sanctions that could include suspension from the university.

But the pro-Palestinian protesters immediately indicated they would not comply with the ruling.

“We will not leave. We will remain here until our demands are met. You justify the mistreatment of students in the encampment in the same way you justify your complicity in the Palestinian genocide,” they said in a statement.

According to the UCLA student newspaper, entitled The Daily Bruin, supporters of Israel attempted to tear down a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on the campus on Tuesday night.

Security was tightened after officials said there were “physical altercations” between factions of protesters at the encampment which has been declared unlawful by UCLA.

At least one person has been taken to hospital with injuries that remain unclear.

It comes as police respond to clashes involving pro-Palestinian protesters at university campuses across the US over the past two weeks which has seen more than 1,000 arrests.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass condemned the violence as “absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable” in a statement on X.

US media have reported protesters have thrown fireworks towards the pro-Palestinian encampment while traffic cones, wooden pallets, a scooter and even a skateboard were used as weapons during melees.

Hostilities were reportedly ongoing for nearly two hours before Los Angeles Police Department officers gathered at a nearby car park.

Police vehicles could be seen nearby, but officers did not immediately intervene.

Footage circulating on social media shows fireworks being set off at the encampment , while one protester claimed he was pepper sprayed amid the mayhem.

Protesters at Columbia University smashed windows, upended furniture and caused damage in an occupied campus building Hamilton Hall with police making more than 100 arrests on Tuesday night.

Officers from the New York Police Department strormed the campus just after 9pm to break up an encampment that had been set up nearly two weeks ago as students took over the hall.

Violence broke out at UCLA overnight between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters.

Demonstrators, some armed with sticks, were seen shoving and kicking one another, while at one point, a group piled on one person who lay on the ground, kicking and beating them until others pulled them out of the scrum.

Vice Chancellor Mary Osako said in a statement

Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid support. The fire department and medical personnel are on the scene. We are sickened by this senseless violence and it must end.

The clashes took place just outside a tent encampment, where pro-Palestinian protesters erected barricades and plywood for protection – and counter-protesters tried to pull them down. Police vehicles could be seen nearby, but officers did not immediately intervene.

MailOnline will provide live updates as violent clashes break out on the University of California campus in Los Angeles between pro-Palestinian protesters and a group of counter demonstrators.

It comes after more than 100 protesters were arrested on Tuesday night at Columbia University in New York City where one building, Hamilton Hall, was occupied by demonstrators before police stormed the campus.

We will bring you the latest developments on this breaking story