LOS ANGELES — Dozens of individuals forced their way into Church of Scientology facilities on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on Saturday, knocking down staff members as part of a viral social media trend in which participants film themselves running through the buildings. The incidents are tied to a TikTok phenomenon known as "speedrunning," in which users post videos of themselves entering multiple Church of Scientology properties, sometimes in costume, to map out the buildings and gather information about the organization.

In recent months, groups of mostly adolescent boys and young men have rushed the church's international headquarters on Hollywood Boulevard. Participants film themselves moving through the building, aiming to complete the task as fast as possible. Videos of the raids have amassed millions of views on TikTok, and some users have developed blueprints of the Hollywood building using information gleaned from the footage.

Ericka Buensuceso was walking along Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday when she saw three costumed individuals dressed as an alien, two hot dogs, and Jesus. The group was banding together to break into the nearby Church of Scientology information center and run through as much of it as possible.

A staff member sustained injuries requiring medical attention, spokesperson David Bloomberg said. Church officials said they were reviewing all available remedies and had made reports to law enforcement. The church also removed all external door handles on its Hollywood Boulevard properties.

"These are peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors and members of the public. Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment and disruption of religious facilities," the church said. "Some online have referred to these incidents as 'speed running.' In reality, they involve organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention," a church spokesperson said. The church said it welcomes lawful visitors but does not welcome individuals forcing entry, damaging property, threatening or injuring people, or targeting religious facilities for online attention.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it responded to multiple incidents in the past month, including one investigated as a potential hate crime. The department received five reports of trespassing incidents, two of which appeared correlated to speed-running attempts. No arrests have been made in connection with the trespassing incidents.

An 18-year-old content creator with the handle Swhileyy appears to have initiated the trend. In March, Swhileyy posted an Instagram video showing himself breaching the church's property, which has since been removed. "I do not condone what I did, even though I didn't break any laws. I never once in any video or any comment section or anywhere promoted the idea of running through there or beating my record," he said.