Beijing police confirmed Thursday they have detained 18 people for allegedly causing an affray and intentionally injuring artists at an art zone on Monday.

The artists staged a brief protest against the attack and the demolition of the art zone in Chaoyang District, Beijing, Monday afternoon, after the incident.

The Beijing Public Security Bureau's information office said the suspects allegedly broke into three artists' workshops in Changdian Village, Chaoyang, on Monday. Police later arrived to control the situation in response to a phone call from the artists.

More than 10 artists, including Ai Weiwei, rallied on Chang'an Avenue at about 3 p.m. Monday, expressing discontent over the demolition of the Chuangyi Zhengyang Art Zone in eastern Beijing's Chaoyang District.

Police are still investigating the dispute.