Columbia University: 'No choice' but to call NYPD, building occupation believed to be led by outside agitators

Columbia University says it "regrets" having to telephone successful nan New York Police Department to clear retired anti-Israel protesters Tuesday night, but they were near pinch "no choice."

University administrators released a connection saying it was their belief that non-student agitators led nan push to break into and occupy Hamilton Hall. The assemblage past called connected nan NYPD to return action.

"We regret that protesters person chosen to escalate nan business done their actions. After nan University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were near pinch nary choice," administrators said successful a statement. "Columbia nationalist information unit were forced retired of nan building, and a member of our accommodation squad was threatened. We will not consequence nan information of our organization aliases nan imaginable for further escalation."

"The activity team, including nan Board of Trustees, met passim nan nighttime and into the early morning, consulting with security experts and rule enforcement to determine the champion scheme to protect our students and nan full Columbia community. We made nan decision, early successful nan morning, that this was a rule enforcement matter, and that nan NYPD were champion positioned to find and execute an due response," nan connection added.

VIDEO SHOWS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS BLOCK JEWISH STUDENT FROM GETTING TO CLASS; UCLA RESPONDS

New York Police Department officers participate nan Columbia University building and detain anti-Israel demonstrators arsenic they had barricaded themselves to iconic Hamilton Hall building successful New York, United States.

The assemblage added that they judge nan group that collapsed into nan building was "led by individuals who are not affiliated pinch nan University."

Administrators lamented nan breakdown of communications betwixt nan schoolhouse and protesters. Columbia officials had held a speech pinch protesters past week, which ended successful an impasse.

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY REVEALS 'TRUE COST' OF ANTI-ISRAEL MOB THAT TOOK OVER ACADEMIC BUILDINGS

"The determination to scope retired to nan NYPD was successful consequence to nan actions of nan protesters, not the cause they are championing. We person made it clear that nan life of field cannot beryllium endlessly interrupted by protesters who break nan rules and nan law," nan schoolhouse said.

Columbia University and student protesters. (Getty Images)

"Early Tuesday, protesters chose to escalate to an alarming and untenable business – including by vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, blockading entrances, and forcing our accommodation and nationalist information workers out – and we are responding appropriately arsenic we person agelong made clear we would. The information of our community, particularly our students, remains our apical priority," nan connection said.

VIDEO SHOWS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS BLOCK JEWISH STUDENT FROM GETTING TO CLASS; UCLA RESPONDS

NYPD officers successful riot cogwheel break into a building astatine Columbia University, wherever anti-Israel students were barricaded wrong a building and group up an encampment, successful New York City. (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

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The protests astatine Columbia are conscionable 1 illustration of anti-Israel demonstrations taking spot astatine campuses crossed nan country. Police were besides called successful to disband an encampment astatine nan University of California astatine Los Angeles precocious Tuesday.