NYPD riot cops stormed Columbia University to quickly disperse protesters at an encampment and an occupied building in less than two hours.
Panicked pro-Palestine demonstrators tumbled down stairs as they tried to flee when cops flooded the Ivy League campus on Tuesday night.
Almost 100 people were arrested at the New York City university, according to NBC. Police stated there were no injuries or people resisting arrest.
Around 40 of those detained were picked up in on the first floor of Hamilton Hall, which students violently took over early Tuesday. Cops swooped in on the building through a window after using flash bangs to clear the way.
President Minouche Shafik called in the police 'to restore order and safety' to the campus amid the escalating protests and fears the demonstrations had been co-opted by external agitators.
University administrators have asked the NYPD to maintain a presence on campus until at least May 17, two days after graduation.
NYPD cops dressed in riot gear have stormed through a window of a Columbia University building occupied by dozens of pro-Palestine protesters to begin clearing them out
The operation came after a rogue group of protesters smashed their way into the university's historic Hamilton Hall to stage an occupation over night
Dozens of cops poured in using a ramp attached to a Lenco ballistic engineered armored response vehicle to access an upper window
Officers used flashbang grenades to distract the protesters holed up inside, then stormed in weirding riot shields to arrest the occupiers
Police look on during pro-Palestinian demonstrations as the NYPD cracks down on protest camps at Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City
Pro-Palestinian supporters confront police during demonstrations
NYPD officers arrive in riot gear to evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University
Dozens of cops poured into Hamilton Hall via a window using a ramp attached to a huge armored truck. Video showed the police hammering at locked doors before sweeping in with riot shields.
Footage showed protesters being dragged out of the campus, some carried by several officers if they refused to walk, and loaded on to buses.
Just after 10pm, the campus was cleared out and locked down by police with many protesters heading north to City College of New York, where police were also raiding a similar encampment.
An encampment first sprung up at Columbia on April 17 after Shafik was hauled before Congress to address anti-Semitism on campus.
Around 9pm on Tuesday, officers stormed the university as the crowd chanted and yelled at them, some confronted the officers and pushed barricades to try and block their path.
A shelter in place warning was issued to students on Morningside campus in the moments before officers descended.
In a statement, the university said the decision to call in police was, 'made to restore safety and order to our community'.
'We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions,' the statement read.
Police arrest protesters during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at The City College Of New York
Footage showed protesters being dragged out of the campus, some carried by several officers if they refused to walk, and loaded on to buses
Police speak with protesters they arrested and loaded on to buses on April 30
The police operation was concluded within around two hours of cops storming the campus
Video from the college showed hundreds of cops in riot gear and armed with zip-tie handcuffs and pepper spray surrounding the campus
A protester is seen being placed in to flexible handcuffs on April 30 shortly after the cops swarmed
Hundreds of NYPD officers swarmed on Columbia University at around 9pm on Tuesday
Pro-Palestinian supporters confront police during demonstrations at The City College Of New York
'After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice.
'Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building, and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation.'
Former president Donald Trump praised officer's response to the situation, but said it should have come 'a lot sooner.'
'There's tremendous damage that's been done to that building, when you look at it it's a landmark and it's really been damaged by these people,' he told Fox News. 'People have to respect the law and order of this country.'
He also hit out at president Joe Biden and called for him to speak up more strongly against anti-Semitism.
The occupation of Hamilton Hall was the latest escalation in the unrest which has rocked the school in recent weeks. Protesters have been demanding the college divest from companies with links to Israel or firms profiting from its war on Hamas.
Cops were forced to enter Hamilton Hall via a window after protesters barricaded themselves inside
Student linked arms as they vowed to defend the encampment ahead of any engagement with police
Students were warned non-compliance 'may result in further discipline' as officers clad in riot gear descended
Cops were armed with zip ties and pepper spray as they stormed the campus at around 9.3-pm on Tuesday
College officials have been battling to shut down the encampment, stating it violates university polices. Following the occupation of Hamilton Hall, Shafik warned that those involved would face expulsion.
More than 100 activists had already been arrested at the school prior to Tuesday's operation.
A first encampment was broken up by NYPD officials. But university officials had vowed not to take similar steps for the current protest.
They gave students an ultimatum to leave, but few followed the instructions.
'We will not leave until Columbia meets every one of our demands,' one activist screamed from a balcony in the building after the takeover.
Officials then started to suspend students before a group raided Hamilton Hall.
'We believe that the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University,' officials continued.
'Sadly, this dangerous decision followed more than a week of what had been productive discussions with representatives of the West Lawn encampment.
Police shut down a previous encampment at Columbia and the university had vowed not to take similar measures going forward. However, an escalation in protest tactics appears to have reversed this decision
A shelter in place alert was issued for the Morningside campus just began to mobilize on Tuesday night
Protesters have been demanding the college divest from companies with links to Israel or firms profiting from its war on Hamas
NYPD officers stand next to barricaded students at Columbia University in New York City on April 30
'The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing. We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law.'
But the move was condemned by the Columbia University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, which said its members had been locked out of campus.
'NYPD presence in our neighborhood endangers our entire community. Armed police entering our campus places students and everyone else on campus at risk,' a statement read.
'We hold university leadership responsible for the disastrous lapses of judgement that have gotten us to this point.'
The statement added faculty had spent the trying to defuse the situation, but were 'rebuffed or ignored.'
At a press conference prior to the raid, NYPD Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Weiner warned the protest had been co-opted by external agitators who were not affiliated with the university.
She stressed the occupation had the potential to spill into other campus buildings, as well as other universities across the country.
'This is not about what's happening overseas, it's not about the last seven months, it's about a very different commitment to at times violent protest activity as an occupation,' she said.
Police arrived after college officials asked them to come in to 'restore safety and order'
Prior to the the NYPD had warned the protests has been co-opted by 'dangerous' external agitators
The decision to call in police was condemned by the Columbia University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors
Members of the New York Police Department strategic response team move towards an entrance to Columbia University on April 30
'They haven't got a right to be on campus and this violates university polices and most importantly, presents a danger to students and the university and communities.
'When we see what we saw last night, we think these tactics are a result of guidance being given to students from these external actors.'
Police confirmed those occupying Hamilton Hall could be charged with trespass and burglary, while those in the encampment could be hit with trespassing and disorderly conduct charges.
The raid at Columbia came as cops flooded other campuses in the Big Apple including the City College of New York.
Video taken at the campus showed protesters letting off flares near the gates to the school.
