By: Fern Sidman

An afternoon demonstration in Manhattan descended into chaos on Saturday when anti-Israel protesters clashed with police outside Grand Central Terminal, forcing officials to barricade the landmark transit hub and leading to at least four arrests, according to authorities and eyewitness accounts.

The confrontation, which began around 3:30 p.m., involved several hundred demonstrators marching under the banner of Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a pro-Hamas activist group that has organized numerous rallies across New York City in recent months. As The New York Post reported on Saturday, the march originated at City Hall and wound through Manhattan before converging on Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall entrance, where tensions quickly escalated.

Police officials said that the demonstrators tried to push their way into the terminal, prompting a swift response from NYPD and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officers stationed nearby. Videos reviewed by The New York Post showed flag-waving protesters chanting “Free Palestine” and pounding on drums as they surged toward the doors, which were locked and reinforced with barricades to prevent entry.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as highly volatile. One clip circulated on social media depicted a female officer surrounded by demonstrators shouting profanities before a group of police subdued an agitator on the pavement. Other footage showed officers forming a protective barrier while some brandished batons to hold back the crowd.

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, a small number of protesters managed to slip past the barricades and into the main concourse of Grand Central. However, they were quickly escorted out by police. WOL, which livestreamed portions of the protest, later shared video of the incursion, framing it as an act of defiance inside one of New York City’s busiest public spaces.

Authorities confirmed that four protesters were taken into custody during the melee. The NYPD arrested two individuals on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct, issuing each a summons for appearance in Criminal Court. Meanwhile, MTA police detained two others, though officials did not immediately disclose the nature of the charges.

None of the arrested demonstrators were publicly identified by name, consistent with department policy for minor offenses.

Despite the intensity of the confrontation, train service at Grand Central Terminal was not disrupted, according to officials cited in The New York Post report. Normal operations continued even as police sealed off sections of the building and deployed reinforcements to secure entrances.

Saturday’s incident marks the latest in a series of confrontations tied to pro-Hamas, pro-terror demonstrations across New York City. Within Our Lifetime, the group behind the march, has been at the forefront of organizing large-scale rallies since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The organization has repeatedly drawn attention for staging protests in high-profile public spaces, including major transit hubs and government buildings.

As The New York Post report noted, Saturday’s march began peacefully outside City Hall but grew increasingly confrontational as it moved uptown. The attempt to breach Grand Central echoed earlier incidents where protesters have sought to occupy or disrupt critical infrastructure as a means of amplifying their message.

In response to the turmoil, a significant police presence remained outside Grand Central for hours after the skirmish. Barricades blocked the Vanderbilt Avenue entrance where the clash had erupted, while teams of NYPD and MTA officers monitored pedestrian traffic and prevented further disturbances.

Video reviewed by The New York Post showed groups of officers patrolling the concourse and streets surrounding the terminal well into the evening, underscoring the heightened state of alert in Midtown Manhattan.

The demonstration comes amid heightened tensions over the Israel-Hamas war and ongoing debates in New York about the balance between free expression and public order. As protests continue across the city, law enforcement officials have faced mounting challenges in containing large, emotionally charged crowds while safeguarding vital transportation hubs.

Saturday’s events, widely documented on social media and reported by The New York Post, highlight both the persistence of pro-Hamas groups such as Within Our Lifetime and the city’s struggle to prevent demonstrations from spilling over into violence and disruption.

For commuters and tourists at Grand Central, the incident was a stark reminder of the volatility of New York’s streets in a time of international conflict reverberating at home.