LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert “due to incidents occurring on Alameda between Aliso and Temple” in the downtown area.

The Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison, is located at that intersection.

Authorities declared the tactical alert at 5 p.m., said LAPD Officer Jeff Lee.

“That way we make sure we have enough resources on hand,” he said.

He did not have information about clashes between federal officers and protesters at the federal building, and he did not know if LAPD was responding to the scene.

“It’s all on federal property right now,” he said.

About 250 to 300 protesters with 20 or so of them wearing gas masks and carrying fabricated shields were seen going up to a fence near the prison.

Around 5:15 p.m., federal officers were seen shooting tear gas canisters. Protesters would either throw the tear gas back over the fence or put buckets over the canisters to stop the smoke.

A person who answered the phone at the Metropolitan Detention Center said he was not authorized to provide any information about the scene unfolding outside.

On social media, LAPD announced that it had issued a dispersal order and the crowd refused to leave the area. Authorities formed a skirmish line on Alameda and Commercial streets.

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