BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – A man was grabbed on the UC Berkeley campus late Tuesday night and forced into a van before the vehicle sped away, according to university police, who are investigating the case as a kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Police have not said whether the victim is a UC Berkeley student or whether he has been found as of Wednesday morning.
What police say happened
In a crime alert issued shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday, the University of California Police Department said a group of males grabbed a man near Stephens Hall, not far from the Campanile in the heart of campus, shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
The attackers allegedly forced the man into a van and drove off campus around 11:53 p.m., according to preliminary information released by UCPD and later summarized in regional media reports.
The notice described the suspects only as males and did not provide a detailed description of the van, leaving key pieces of information — like the vehicle’s color, license plate or direction of travel — unclear.
Police said the crime was reported to UCPD at about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, roughly 50 minutes after it occurred.
Authorities have not released information about the man’s condition or any possible motive.
Location near campus core
Stephens Hall sits close to the Campanile and some of the most heavily traveled walkways on campus, especially during the day. UCPD said the incident happened on campus near the building, not on a side street several blocks away.
The area sees a mix of students walking between classes, staff leaving late-night events and researchers coming and going from nearby academic buildings. Overnight, it can become much quieter, with fewer people around to witness a crime or quickly call police.
Few details, but strong concern
Both the UC Berkeley crime alert and subsequent coverage from local outlets emphasized how little is publicly known so far: police have not said whether the victim was a student, whether they have been located, or whether the attack appeared targeted or random.
Anyone with information has been urged to call UCPD at 510-642-6760.
