US authorities on Thursday investigated a potential chemical attack that took place during a pro-Israel festival at George Washington University, Washington, DC, on Tuesday.
GW students were celebrating Israel Fest when individuals dropped vials containing an unknown substance into the crowd.
The event was organized by GW for Israel, a student group on campus.
According to a statement made by the university, at least one student was injured. As part of its investigation, the university said that it “will examine, among other things, whether individuals were targeted based on their Jewish faith.”
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at GW, said it took a long time for the school to reveal what happened during the event, according to a report by ABC’s 7News.
“Parents are likely to wonder why they get a fire truck on campus but have to wait until the following week to hear about a possible hate crime against a Jewish student,” he said.
The report said that students recalled the event starting to smell like rotten eggs after the vials were dropped, leading them to believe that the capsules were a kind of stink bomb.
The university is working with law enforcement and will “utilize all available avenues to investigate these concerning reports thoroughly and hold any perpetrators who are identified accountable to the fullest extent,” according to its statement.
“Acts like this have no place in our community, which is a safe and inclusive place for individuals of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences,” it added.