Police on Saturday arrested at least 25 pro-Palestinian protesters and cleared an encampment at the University of Virginia, the university said in a statement, as US campuses braced for more turmoil during graduation celebrations.

Tensions flared at UVA’s campus in Charlottesville, where protests had been largely peaceful until Saturday morning, when police officers in riot gear were seen in a video moving on an encampment on the campus’ lawn, cuffing some demonstrators with zip-ties and using what appeared to be chemical spray.

Students across the US have rallied or set up tents at dozens of universities to protest the months-long war in Gaza and call on President Joe Biden, who has supported Israel, to do more to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. They also demand their schools divest from companies that support Israel’s government, such as arms suppliers.

The University of Virginia said in a news release that protesters had violated several university policies including setting up tents on Friday night and using amplified sound.

Jim Ryan, UVA’s president, wrote in a message that officials had learned that “individuals unaffiliated with the university” who presented “some safety concerns” had joined protesters on campus.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many of those arrested were UVA students.

A group called UVA Encampment for Gaza that said earlier this week it had set up the encampment condemned the university’s decision to call in police in a post on Instagram.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on the sidelines of the 15th OIC Islamic Summit Conference in Banjul, the capital of Gambia.

According to a spokesperson for the Foreign Office, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations during the meeting.

Dar and Bayramov expressed their commitment to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade and energy.

The spokesperson said that the leaders agreed to enhance political relations and dialogue during the meeting.

Ishaq Dar, on this occasion, congratulated Jeyhun Bayramov on Baku’s nomination to host COP29.

The foreign minister expressed Pakistan’s keen interest in cooperation and exchange of experiences to address climate change.

He also commended Azerbaijan for its strong and principled stance on the Kashmir conflict.

 Two key terrorists were killed as a result of gunfire from their own associates during an operation carried out by personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday.

According to CTD officials, the dead terrorists, Naseebullah and Ihsanullah, were affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Both were wanted for the murder of a cop during an attack on a Dolphin Force team in Rawalpindi.

A huge stash of explosives, including hand grenades, heavy weaponry and ammunition, was seized.