8 hospitalised by counter-protestors at student-led pro-Palestine demo at Columbia University

A pro-Palestinian student-led demonstration at Columbia University in New York was reportedly infiltrated by counter-protesters who sprayed a harmful substance on peaceful protesters, leading to at least eight hospitalisations and sparking an investigation by the New York Police Department.

The identification of the alleged perpetrators was swift, with online sleuths finding them to be former Israeli soldiers who were now Columbia University students. However, the university and the NYPD have not released their names.

A deputy commissioner for public information with the NYPD told The New Arab that six individuals, all females in their teens and twenties, filed police reports. So far, there have been no arrests, but he said they continued to actively work on the case - which will end in arrest.