NYPD arrests students, clears Columbia University campus of pro-Palestinian protest encampment

NYPD officers arrested more than 100 Columbia University students Thursday after groups protesting the war in Gaza refused to take down a two-day encampment zone.

Hundreds of cops flooded the campus in the early afternoon with buses on standby to transport those arrested. Students continued to chant on the lawn throughout the day, and began setting up new tents some yards away.

“I regret that all of these attempts to resolve the situation were rejected by the students involved,” university president Minouche Shafik said in a message to students. “As a result, NYPD officers are now on campus and the process of clearing the encampment is underway.”

No students have been criminally charged yet, cops said Thursday afternoon. The protesters were being processed at NYPD headquarters at One Police Plaza, with most  expected to be released with a summons. Top NYPD brass along with Mayor Adams were set to brief the public this evening.