'Felt like enormous ton of bricks': GMB reporter hit by rubber bullet in LA protests
A Good Morning Britain (GMB) correspondent has recounted the moment he was hit by a rubber bullet while reporting on the protests in Los Angeles.
Protests have been ongoing in LA since Friday (June 6) after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers carried out raids in areas of the city with prominent Latino populations.
The raids are said to have increased since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, according to the BBC, as part of a pledge to crack down on illegal immigration.
US National Guard troops were called in over the weekend by Mr Trump in an attempt to stamp out protestors.
GMB's North America correspondent Noel Phillips has been in LA reporting on the protests.
He appeared on GMB on Tuesday (June 10) morning and revealed that just 10 minutes before going on air the day before, he had been hit by a rubber bullet fired by local police.
Mr Phillips said he was lying on the ground speaking to some protestors when the incident occurred.
Whilst reporting on the LA riots yesterday morning, our Correspondent @noel_phillips was hit by a rubber bullet. He talks to @susannareid100 and Richard about the unrest that has been unfolding in LA. pic.twitter.com/WeNylgxrFo
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 10, 2025
He recounted: "As I was lying on the floor, I felt as though an enormous ton of bricks had fallen on my arm.
"I realised, I think, within 20 to 30 seconds that a rubber bullet had grazed the top layer of my skin and had caused a bit of injury.
"My arm was swollen, I went to the doctors, got it checked out, it wasn't broken at all, but it was swollen and still is swollen. It's in bandage at the moment."
GMB correspondent Noel Phillips said his sustained minor injuries after being hit by a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. (Image: ITV/Good Morning Britain) The GMB correspondent added the incident showed just how "unpredictable" things are in LA at the moment.
Mr Phillips said: "Police don't appear to care whether you're a journalist, whether you're a resident, or a protester on the street.
"Their objective is to get people off (the streets)."
The reporter added that the rubber bullet could have caused "considerable damage" had it been fired at close range, but because it was fired from afar it only resulted in a minor injury.
Rubber bullets, tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls have all been used during the protests.
GMB fans toook to social media to pass on their well-wishes to Mr Phillips following news of the incident.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Richard Madeley presents Good Morning Britain in cast after 'double fracture'
ITV announces huge change for Good Morning Britain TV schedule from 2026
John Cleese tells GMB presenter to 'shut up' in 'cringeworthily awful' moment
One viewer, writing on X (formerly Twitter), said: "That's proper dangerous stuff, love. Hope Noel's alright—no one should have to dodge rubber bullets just for doing their job."
Another added: "Poor Noel. I hope he's okay. It does raise the question how ethical it is of the bosses at ITV to place reporters in such dangerous situations."
While a third person commented: "Hope he is ok?"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
12 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Why pro-Palestinian protests can actually help protect Jewish students
To the editor: Although I have no qualms calling out President Trump's exploitation of antisemitism charges to silence dissent and defund education, I object to this article's premise that the college protests make Jews unsafe and would argue the opposite is true ('Being Jewish on campus amid Trump's campaign against antisemitism: 'tremendous heartache,'' June 9). Pro-Palestinian protests on campus increase Jewish people's safety because they challenge the normalization of Israel's bombardment and blockage of food, water, medicine and fuel on a starving and caged population in Gaza. Once we normalize and arm the slaughter and imposition of starvation on Gaza, we normalize crimes against humanity everywhere, leaving us all unsafe. Moreover, Israel's proclamation that it is the state of the Jewish people unfairly associates Jews worldwide with its policies of apartheid and ethnic cleansing. I live in Santa Barbara, where I supported the UCSB encampment in the spring of last year and continue to applaud students of all denominations who say, 'Never again means never again for anyone.' Equating such protests and encampments with antisemitism does us all a disservice. I do not want to be associated with Israel's war crimes, as alleged by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, and appreciate the opportunity to participate in the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace. Not in our name! Marcy Winograd, Santa BarbaraThis writer is a member of the California legislative team for Jewish Voice for Peace.
CBS News
13 minutes ago
- CBS News
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux clarifies immigration stance amid criticism
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux is taking on criticism following comments made during a recent interview about his department's stance on immigration enforcement. It was last week that Comeaux was seen and heard on a Fox News interview saying, "Pick another city. Don't come to Dallas, you are not welcome." While he was asked about immigration enforcement earlier in the interview, he said those words weren't aimed directly at immigrants in the country illegally, as many were led to believe. During a news conference late last week, the city's top cop addressed those comments. "That message is for all the felon warrants out there," said Comeaux. "That's who that message was to." He clarified his stance on immigration and working with federal law enforcement partners. "Our stance hasn't changed since I've been here," Comeaux said. "I've said the exact same thing every time about immigration. We're going to do the right thing. We're going to do our jobs, and we will not be searching for immigrants. We have no special programs where we are searching for immigrants." He did say Dallas police would be willing to assist all federal agencies that request help, including immigration authorities. "If DEA, FBI, ATF, HSI, ERO needs our assistance as a law enforcement partner, we will be there to help them," said Comeaux. It's the same stance that has been taken with previous Dallas police chiefs. Former interim Dallas police chief emphasized community with immigration enforcement policy In February, then-interim chief Michael Igo highlighted the importance of trust between law enforcement and the community for public safety, telling the community that officers will not inquire about immigration status unless necessary for specific investigations. "Trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve is essential to public safety," Igo said. "All persons should know that they should never hesitate to report crimes, seek help, or cooperate with police." He emphasized the department's priorities, including investigating crimes, responding to emergencies, reducing violent crimes, and protecting constitutional rights. He reiterated that Dallas PD will not participate in immigration enforcement efforts but will assist in the arrest of individuals wanted for criminal offenses, regardless of their immigration status. Igo also said that arrests and raids would not be carried out in churches, schools or hospitals, but said that illegal immigrants with outstanding warrants were at risk of deportation. Afterward, Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation and issued a formal request for records concerning the Department's "refusal to comply with state and federal immigration laws." Trump's evolving immigration policies In January, Trump signed off on local law enforcement assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. He also threatened to withhold federal funding from "sanctuary cities." As the Trump administration implements new strategies to reshape U.S. immigration policies, conditions for undocumented migrants, including those attending court hearings for legal status, have become more hostile, prompting some asylum-seekers to reconsider continuing their cases or to leave voluntarily. ICE agents arrest immigrants at Dallas courthouse At the Dallas federal courthouse and federal courthouses around the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been arresting immigrants who show up for their scheduled hearings. According to attorneys, this is part of a new tactic by the Trump administration to fast-track the removal of migrants who arrived in the U.S. in the past two years. With millions caught in the backlog, it can normally take years for those seeking relief to go through the immigration court process. Under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE attorneys are dropping cases against some migrants, removing their temporary protected status, and making them immediately eligible for arrest and deportation. This is happening during what's called a master calendar docket, a check-in early in the immigration case process. DHS defends immigration policy shift In an emailed statement to CBS News Texas, the Department of Homeland Security wrote: "Secretary Noem is reversing Biden's catch-and-release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This administration is once again implementing the rule of law. "Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.
CNN
14 minutes ago
- CNN
Airlines offering vouchers, new flights for passengers impacted by airport delays during Army parade in DC
Passengers flying through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Saturday will experience delays as the Army celebrates its 250th birthday with a parade and flyover in Washington, DC. The celebration, which coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday, will impact vehicle and airline traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration said it will issue temporary flight restrictions for the Washington area during the celebration, which begins with a parade at 6:30 p.m. and ends with fireworks at 9:45 p.m. From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 65 flights are scheduled to arrive at Reagan airport in Northern Virginia and 39 are scheduled to depart, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. The airport is accommodating for the military flyovers along the parade route and a fireworks display, according to its website. The FAA is working with the Department of Defense to finalize a flyover plan, which will detail the aircraft involved. 'The FAA will implement traffic management initiatives at DCA before, during, and after the event to ensure safety and will facilitate a return to normal operations once the event concludes,' the agency said in a statement. 'During the peak of the celebration, the TMI stops all arrivals and departures.' United Airlines told CNN it is offering a travel waiver for Reagan flyers and is adding two additional departures and two arrivals at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia as an alternative. Delta Air Lines has a fare-difference waiver for passengers who want to move their booked travel to another day. Southwest Airlines said passengers on the approximately 20 scheduled flights can anticipate some delays, but it is planning for no cancellations. There is also a travel waiver in place for Southwest flyers. Alaska Airlines' exposure is fairly limited during the celebration window, and the airline canceled one flight to San Francisco International Airport and rebooked it to Dulles. It estimates the three flights scheduled during the time frame to be delayed for an hour. The hold on airport traffic comes after the January midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk military helicopter. The crash, which killed 67 people, led to a ban on helicopter traffic on a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River.
