On Tuesday, NYPD officers utilized flash-bang grenades to breach Columbia University's Hamilton Hall, where protesters had barricaded themselves inside. The police department reported that the building's doors had been barricaded with chairs, tables, and vending machines, while windows were covered with newspaper.
A flash-bang grenade, when deployed, emits a bright flash and a very loud bang, commonly used to shock and disorient individuals. Video footage shared by NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry depicted officers searching an office lined with bookshelves after breaking the door's lock with a hammer.
Another video showcased officers navigating a stairwell and passing chairs to one another as they carried out their operation. Prior to the breach, approximately 50 officers had used an elevated ramp to enter the building through a window.
The use of flash-bang grenades and the subsequent breach of Hamilton Hall marked a significant escalation in the response to the protest situation at Columbia University. The intense tactics employed by law enforcement underscored the challenges faced in managing such scenarios and ensuring public safety.
