18-year-old suspected of attacking pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA

An 18-year-old man was arrested and accused of attacking a pro-Palestinian camp at UCLA, police said.

May 24, 2024, 11:41 a.m. PDT

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – An 18-year-old man accused of attacking a pro-Palestinian camp at UCLA has been behind bars since Friday.

Edan On was arrested by UCLA police in Beverly Hills on Thursday and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, a felony. He was being held on $30,000 bail, according to campus police and jail records, which indicate he is being housed at the Central Men’s Jail in downtown Los Angeles.

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Detectives interviewed witnesses and victims and reviewed surveillance camera footage from the pro-Palestinian demonstration to identify the suspect, who had no connection to campus and was believed to be part of a group that violently attacked students, faculty and staff on April 30, according to a statement from UCLA police.

On was identified by CNN last week as a counter-protester. In a video, he can be seen repeatedly hitting a pro-Palestinian protester with a pole. He is wearing a white hoodie and a mask.

“The UCLA Police Department is committed to investigating all reported acts of violence and is actively working to identify other violent offenders associated with protest or counter-protest activities between April 25, 2024 and May 2, 2024,” the agency said.

“Participating in graduation is a privilege and we expect our students to maintain the highest standards of behavior to participate in this significant milestone,” Michael Bregy, superintendent of the Beverly Hills Unified School District, told ABC7.

Campus Police Chief John Thomas was removed from his post and transferred after being criticized for security lapses that led to violence at a pro-Palestinian camp, according to a Los Angeles Times report citing university officials. Thomas later defended his actions in an interview, saying he did his best. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block was questioned by members of Congress on Thursday about his handling of complaints of anti-Semitism on campus.

Earlier this month, more than 200 people were arrested when police cleared a camp at UCLA.

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