Mob of anti-Israel protestors clash with police after attempting to storm Grand Central Terminal: cops
The chaos erupted around 3:30 p.m. when hundreds of demonstrators that had been marching in Manhattan attempted to storm the transit hub's doors, forcing officials to lock and barricade the iconic building.
The unruly crowd was part of a protest organized by Palestinian activist group Within Our Lifetime that started outside City Hall earlier in the afternoon, according to police.
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The group, waving Palestinian flags and chanting, scuffled with NYPD and MTA officers outside the station's Vanderbilt Hall entrance, according to cops and shocking videos on social media.
One video of the melee showed protesters hurling profanities at a female officer before a group of cops tackled an agitator, while others formed a barrier to keep the hostile group from entering the terminal.
4 NYPD and MTA police officers confronting Palestine protestors at Grand Central Station.
Luis.Documents/X
Some cops were seen using batons to fend off the protestors.
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4 NYPD officers detaining Palestine protestors at Grand Central Terminal.
Luis.Documents/X
4 Some cops were seen using batons to fend off the protestors.
Luis.Documents/X
A handful of the rowdy flag-waving demonstrators, shouting 'Free Palestine' and banging on drums, made it into the main concourse, but were removed by authorities, a video shared by WOL showed.
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None of the arrested protesters were publicly identified by cops. Two of them were arrested by the NYPD, charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct and issued Criminal Court summonses, a police spokesperson said.
4 Footage of a scuffle between NYPD officers and Palestine protestors at Grand Central Terminal.
Luis.Documents/X
MTA officers took two other demonstrators into custody, but no details about what charges may be facing were immediately made public.
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Train service didn't seem to have been disrupted after the wild skirmish.
A heavy police presence remained hours later, blocking off the area where the tussle erupted.
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