U.S. border guards in melee with crowd at Tijuana

TIJUANA, Mexico, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Border guards used tear gas on a crowd of people at the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana and some in the crowd threw rocks and bottles, video of the melee shows.

The video, broadcast on Milenio Television, shows a crowd of well over 100 people walking along the border fence before coming face to face with border guards in a confrontation that occurred Sunday as the crowd attempted to cross the Tijuana River into the United States. At one point, U.S. border guards -- some with firearms drawn -- use pepper spray on the crowd.

It is not clear from the video which came first, but it appears the rocks and bottles were thrown after guards used tear gas.

Some agents were struck by rocks and one was struck in the head by a bottle of water, the Los Angeles Times reported.

It was also not clear whether the crowd was protesting or trying to enter the United States, the newspaper said.

"It was extremely unusual," Border Patrol spokesman Tim Hamill told the Times. "It was dangerous, very dangerous."

Paul Beeson, chief patrol agent for the San Diego sector, told the newspaper the Border Patrol agents "showed great restraint when faced with the dangers of this unusually large group."

No arrests were made in the confrontation at the San Ysidro port of entry, which the Times said is among the most heavily fortified points along the border.