University of California, Berkeley, cancels Yiannopoulos' event after violent protests

The University of California, Berkeley, has cancelled a speech by right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos after violent protests.

According to reports, the gathering was peaceful until about 6 p.m. when several dozen protesters wearing black face masks and carrying glittering flags arrived. The group quickly attacked the police barricades and began shooting firecrackers at the building. Some used barricades to smash windows.

The university said in a statement, "Amid violence, destruction of property and out of concern for public safety, the University of California Police Department determined that it was necessary to remove Milo Yiannopoulos from the campus and to cancel tonight's scheduled 8 p.m. performance."

It said that officers read several dispersal announcements to the crowd of more than 1,500 protesters that had gathered outside the Martin Luther King Jr. ASUC venue.

Yiannopoulos was escorted away from the event immediately, the statement confirmed while condemning the violent protests.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer's presence and perspectives," said the statement.

Yiannopoulos is a well-known figure in the right-wing internet, though he was permanently banned from Twitter in July 2016 for instigating racist and sexist abuse of Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones. Since 2015, Yiannopoulos has traveled to university campuses as part of his "Dangerous Faggot" tour, frequently provoking protest by the students.