Police use tear gas to disperse protesters on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson

According to numerous reports, police used tear gas to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters on the University of Arizona Tucson campus early Friday morning after they refused to leave their camp.

The school said: “A structure made of wooden pallets and other debris was constructed on campus premises after 5pm in breach of guidelines. University officials issued warnings to disperse and disperse the camp. The warnings were ignored,” despite the school’s president, Robert C. Robbins, implementing “a zero-tolerance approach to enforcement on his campus.”

According to the statement, police vehicles were spiked and rocks and water bottles were thrown at officers and university staff. “Anyone who violates the law will be arrested and prosecuted,” the statement continued.

KOLD-TV, a CBS Tucson affiliate, said it confirmed bottles were thrown.

The Arizona Daily Star published a video of what happened next:

KOLD reports that a large group of police officers moved against the demonstrators shortly after midnight local time “after they ignored multiple orders to disperse. The officers used gas and “tore down the camp, which was fortified with wooden and plastic barriers.”

KOLD says the protesters then left the campus and walked across the street before police fired more gas at them. They then left the area.

The school said the decision to use law enforcement was made “to ensure the safety of … participants” in the commencement ceremony scheduled for Friday evening.