Veteran dragged out of Senate for protesting against Iran war

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A US Marine veteran was dragged out of a Senate hearing on Thursday for protesting against the bombing of Iran, shouting that “no one wants to fight for Israel”.

Footage shows the protester, Brian McGinnis, demonstrating against the US campaign in Iran during the Senate armed services hearing.

“America does not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel!” he shouted. “Please stand up as a marine and stand up for America.

“Israel is the reason for this war. America does not want to fight this war for Israel,” Mr McGinnis, of North Carolina, said. “No one wants to fight for Israel.”

Three police officers quickly grabbed Mr McGinnis and sought to wrestle him from the room.

During the altercation, Mr McGinnis’s arm appeared to become wedged in the door. Tim Sheehy, a Republican senator and former Navy Seal, joined the struggle and tried to pull Mr McGinnis’s arm off the door.

An audible snap can be heard in one video, and someone behind the camera says that Mr McGinnis’s arm has been broken.

In another video, someone shouts: “The senator broke his hand. A US senator just broke the hand of a marine.”

Mr Sheehy shouted at Mr McGinnis to “go f--- yourself” as he was removed from the room, and later called him “unhinged”.

Mr McGinnis served four years in the Marine Corps, including time spent in Iraq, and now works as a firefighter.

Mr Sheehy later said in a statement on social media that he was trying to de-escalate the situation.

“Capitol Police were attempting to remove an unhinged protester from the armed services hearing. He was fighting back. I decided to help out and de-escalate the situation,” he said. “This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one.”

Mr McGinnis was arrested and is facing three counts of assaulting a police officer and three counts of resisting arrest and unlawful demonstration, the Capitol Police said. Three officers were treated for injuries.