U-Haul Drives Into Crowd at Westwood Anti-Iranian Government Rally; One Injured, Driver Detained
A U-Haul truck drove into a large anti-Iranian government rally in Los Angeles’ Westwood on January 11, 2026, striking one person, sparking chaotic confrontations and prompting LAPD and FBI involvement as investigators probe motive, and public concern.
- One person hit, minor injuries: an adult was struck and treated at the scene; no hospital transport required.
- Driver detained: the driver was detained after demonstrators stopped the truck and LAPD moved in.
- Banner and context: the truck bore a large banner referencing “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH”, invoking historical grievances.
- Investigation ongoing: LAPD and the FBI are reviewing video and witness accounts to determine motive and possible charges.
Key information
- Incident: A U-Haul truck drove into a crowd during an anti-Iranian government rally in Westwood, striking one person with minor injuries. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News)
- Location and crowd size: The rally began near the Wilshire Federal Building on the 11000 block of Wilshire Boulevard and grew to as many as 3,000 people. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, Wikipedia)
- Aftermath: Protesters chased and stopped the truck blocks away; video shows broken windows, a smashed windshield, and attempts to pull the driver out. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News, NBC4 video)
- Banner: A banner on the truck read “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH”, with a similar message in another language. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News, Wikipedia)
- Investigation: The driver was detained; authorities said the incident may have begun as an altercation in the crowd rather than a preplanned political attack. The FBI assisted LAPD on scene. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News)
What happened
The rally began at about 2 p.m. near the Wilshire Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard to support protesters in Iran. By about 3 p.m., police estimated the crowd had grown to thousands.
Video shows a U-Haul truck moving into a dense group of people on Veteran Avenue. The truck struck one adult, who suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene but declined transport to a hospital. After the initial contact, demonstrators chased the vehicle several blocks. The truck showed clear damage — a shattered windshield, broken windows and missing side mirrors — when it was stopped.
“Protesters ripped a banner from the truck and tried to pull the driver out; some people punched the driver and used flagpoles against the vehicle before police intervened,” eyewitness and video accounts show.
What authorities said
LAPD Captain Richard Gabaldon told reporters investigators do not believe the incident was terrorism or a political attack and that it appears to have begun from an altercation in the crowd; he also said the driver was injured during the chaos. (Source: Los Angeles Times.)
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the FBI was on site with LAPD as they worked to determine motive and gather evidence. Mayor Karen Bass visited the scene and urged people to exercise their First Amendment rights peacefully. (Source: Los Angeles Times.)
Injuries and emergency response
Officials confirmed one adult was struck by the truck and suffered no major injuries; that person declined ambulance transport after being treated at the scene. Two other people were evaluated by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and also declined additional care. No ambulances were ultimately called to the scene. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News.)
Eyewitness accounts
Witnesses described sudden screams and chaos when the truck hit the crowd. Iranian‑American family members at the rally said the march had been peaceful before the incident. Kiana Moe, one witness, said protesters had been calling for freedom and regime change in Iran and that the group had been largely peaceful prior to the confrontation. (Source: Los Angeles Times.)
The banner and the history it referenced
The truck bore a large banner reading “NO SHAH. NO REGIME. USA: DON’T REPEAT 1953. NO MULLAH”, referencing the 1953 U.S.-backed coup that ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and helped install the Shah. That coup is widely cited by activists and historians as a turning point that shaped modern Iranian politics and contributed to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The banner’s wording echoes rhetoric used by groups opposing Iran’s current government. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News, background history.)
Broader context: protests in Iran and in Los Angeles
The Westwood demonstration was part of a wave of protests in the United States supporting people in Iran. Activists say more than 500 people have been killed and thousands arrested since unrest began in Iran two weeks earlier. Los Angeles hosts the largest Iranian population outside Iran, and diasporic demonstrations in the U.S. have become common as the unrest continues. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News, Wikipedia.)
Video and public record
Local broadcast video from NBC4 and ABC shows the sequence: a truck moving into the crowd, protesters chasing it, attacks on the vehicle and driver, and police detaining the driver. These recordings have circulated widely online as investigators review evidence. (See: NBC4 video, ABC video.)
Investigation status and legal questions
As of January 12, 2026, investigators had detained the driver but had not publicly filed charges or identified the person. LAPD and federal officials are reviewing video, witness statements and other evidence to determine whether crimes were committed and what charges, if any, may apply. Officials caution it is too early to draw firm conclusions about motive. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, ABC News.)
Implications for Fresno, California
Public safety and protest planning: Fresno officials may review traffic control, crowd-protection plans, and coordination with law enforcement for large rallies to reduce the risk of vehicle-related harm.
Community relations and political impact: The incident may raise concern among Fresno’s Iranian‑American, Muslim and immigrant communities. Local leaders could host listening sessions and emphasize the right to peaceful protest and safety for all.
Police and legal considerations: Fresno Police and prosecutors may look to Los Angeles for lessons on preserving video evidence, coordinating with federal partners, and balancing crowd control with civil liberties.
Practical steps for residents: Residents planning to attend demonstrations should plan routes, share contact information, avoid driving into crowded areas, and know safe exits and where to get medical help.
Sources and reporting notes
This article draws on reporting from the Los Angeles Times and ABC News, public video from local broadcasters, and publicly available summaries of the incident. Primary sources and video: Los Angeles Times; ABC News; Wikipedia summary; NBC4 video; ABC video.
Reporting will continue as investigators and prosecutors release more information.
