demonstrations – Large police forces moved in

Television images show the police entering the university, which is located in upper Manhattan, and that they have arrested protesters there.

According to CNN, 30-40 protesters have been arrested.

A number of police officers used special equipment to enter the Hamilton Hall building on the university campus after students and others occupied it earlier on Tuesday.

– We are emptying it, police officers shouted as they marched up to the barricade outside, according to Reuters.

Shock grenades

The whole operation started around 21:00 local time. Among other things, they used stun grenades, but so far no serious injuries or clashes between the police and the demonstrators have been reported, reports CNN.

An hour and a half later, the police appeared to have removed most of the protesters and had the area under control.

A police officer, who will not be named, told the news agency AP that shortly before, the police had been told by the university to take action.

In recent weeks, more than 1,000 protesters have been arrested on campuses in the United States, including in Texas, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, New Mexico, Connecticut, Louisiana, California and New Jersey. In several places, there have been violent clashes between students and the police.

Representatives of the protesters express in the American media that they are upset and feel that they are being gagged.

– Vandalized

The university management, for its part, defends that the police intervened.

– After the university became aware overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized and blocked off, we had no choice, says an announcement from the university.

It is also said that the educational institution’s security personnel were forced out of the building and that an employee was threatened.

– The decision to ask the New York police for help was a reaction to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are fighting for, it says further.

In the center

Columbia University has been at the center of the wave of Gaza demonstrations on campuses across the US in recent weeks. The demonstrations have led to an intense debate about where school leaders should draw the line between freedom of speech and hate speech.

Earlier on Tuesday, the management at the university threatened with academic exclusion of students who participate in the house occupation.