JUST IN: Majority of arrests at Columbia University's Gaza Camp were not students

On Tuesday night, Columbia University released a statement after calling the New York Police Department to arrest pro-Hamas activists who “occupied, vandalized and blockaded” one of the buildings on campus, which revealed that "the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University." Over 100 people were arrested at C olumbia.

“A little after 9 pm this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the University’s request. This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community," the statement read.

“We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. 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.” 

According to the statement, the decision was made by the university’s “leadership team, including the Board of Trustees” who consulted “with security experts and law enforcement.” 

“We made the decision, early in the morning, that this was a law enforcement matter, and that the NYPD were best positioned to determine and execute an appropriate response.”

It was previously revealed that the activists who are part of the almost 2-week occupation of the campus were being led by outside agitators who are not students. According to the statement, “We believe that the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University.”

“We severely curtailed the number of people on Morningside campus starting Tuesday morning. Over the course of the day, we updated our community on access to campus buildings, and will continue to do so through the next few days.”

“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.” 

On Tuesday morning, dozens of the pro-Hamas rioters on campus vandalized Hamilton Hall, broke doors and windows, blockaded entrances, and forced the university's "facilities and public safety workers out—and we are responding appropriately as we have long made clear we would. The safety of our community, especially our students, remains our top priority.”

In response, NYPD officers in riot gear went into Hamilton Hall Tuesday night to arrest the activists. Suspensions and threats of expulsion previously failed to disperse the occupation.

The occupation has been on campus since April 17, the same day Columbia’s president Minouche Shafik testified before Congress about anti-Semitism at the university.

In a statement, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said "young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children."