Ten Arrested As Pro- And Anti-Trump Protesters Clash In Berkeley

BERKELEY, CA — Violence broke out at a rally in Berkeley where pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators clashed Saturday.

Injuries have been documented, protesters have pepper sprayed one another, smoke bombs were set off and 10 people were arrested, according to police.

"At this time we have made 10 arrests including five for battery, four for assault with a deadly weapon (including one with possession of a dagger) and one for resisting arrest," police said in a statement. Of the 10, five were for battery, four for assault with a deadly weapon and one for resisting arrest.

"In several cases, individuals fighting each other declined police assistance," police report. "Because of the nature of the crowd, police are not always able to make immediate arrests without inciting further violence or injuring peaceful bystanders. Police work to document and identify suspects and arrest them at the first available time. Sometimes that’s during the event. Sometimes, that’s in the days that follow. The community can assist with this by reporting crimes and offering assistance in identifying or locating suspects."

Berkeley Police were criticized by pro-Trump protesters who believe that officers stood by as they were attacked by counter-protesters, criticism that was echoed on social media.

The demonstration follows a riot that broke out at UC Berkeley earlier this year, when right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos was supposed to speak on campus. Police were also criticized following the riot for not preventing violence.

- Image Credit: Max Whittaker/Getty Images News/Getty Images

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