Australian news reporter shot at during Los Angeles protests
An Australian reporter has confirmed she is 'okay' and 'safe' after she was shot at during protests in Los Angeles over the weekend.
Cars were set alight by protestors while federal agents used tear gas to break up crowds over the weekend as tempers flared in LA following ICE [Immigration and Custom Enforcement] operations.
More than 100 people have been arrested, with 44 arrested on Friday on suspicion of immigration violations during raids carried out by ICE. Cars were set alight by protestors while federal agents used tear gas to break up crowds over the weekend as tempers flared in Los Angeles following ICE [Immigration and Custom Enforcement] operations. Pic: RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images
Sky News report that the raids saw street vendors and day workers 'rounded up,' with the operation prompting backlash from protestors who have chaotically fought back.
On Sunday, rioters were seen setting fire to Waymos driverless cars, and celebrating the havoc by dancing on the roofs of cars, waving Mexican flags and chanting, 'burn, burn, burn.'
The siege has resulted in the self-driving car company halting all services in and around the area. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by 9News (@9news)
US President Donald Trump has signed an order to deploy the National Guard in a move heavily criticized by Governor of California Gavin Newsom, who said the President wanted a 'spectacle.'
The Governor has been vocal about his disdain towards the President, stating that the 'commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral.'
As tempers continue to flare, one person caught in the crossfire was Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi who is the US Correspondent for Aussie news channel 9News. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by 9News (@9news)
Lauren reported live from the violent scenes which saw a number of protestors verbally attack her and demand she 'report the truth.'
Later in her broadcast, Lauren and her cameraman are away from the destructive scenes. Unfortunately, despite being away from protestors, Lauren is then hit in the leg with a rubber bullet by police.
Thankfully, the reporter and her cameraman reported that they were both fine, with Lauren speaking to her 9News colleague Peter Overton, who was in the studio.
'I am okay,' she confirmed, 'My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents. It has been a really volatile day on the streets of Los Angeles.'
Reporting from Downtown Los Angeles at the time, Lauren confirmed that the whole area had been 'cleared out' with citizens warned they will be arrested if they move through the area.
'There has been a lot of tempers flaring here today and certainly, tonight there is a lot of anger in the City of Angels.'
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The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Watch ‘Antifa' LA rioters make rocks to pelt ICE amid ‘Death to America' taunts…but hero legal migrants HELP hurt cop
SHOCKING footage from warzone LA shows alleged Antifa rioters "harvesting" rocks from pavements to hurl at officers - while another video shows heroic "legal migrants" tend to a wounded cop. Graffiti calling for "Death to America" appeared during the carnage - which this morning 11 Rioters, identified as alleged Antifa members, harvest rocks from the sidewalk to hurl at police Credit: x/AlsoButtazzoni 11 Threatening messages have been scrawled on the city's walls Credit: x/Jere_Memez 11 Workers in a restaurant, reported to be Salvadoran-owned, help an injured officer Credit: x/salvatorianpride/abc7la 11 The clashes with between rioters and police have intensified over the course of three days Credit: Getty The streets of downtown LA have Shocking photos and videos from the city have surfaced showing One alarming clip posted online shows a group of bloodlusted protesters chipping away rocks from the mud, seemingly ready to hurl at police. As the cameraman films with his phone, one of the gang rushes over and tells him to "put it away". read more on the riots Right-wing "citizen journalist" Aldo Buttazzoni, who posted the clip, identified the group as members of "Antifa" - the controversial far-left group associated with explosive clashes with cops. Footage shows fierce battles between the two sides - with a barrage of missile raining down on cops who respond with rubber bullets and tear gas . Officers are pelted with rocks and traffic cones from all sides as they desperately shield themselves. Another clip filmed inside a national guard van reveals the level of hostility they face on the streets. Most read in The US Sun As the van drives along, there is the near-constant thud of missiles launched by protesters smashing into it. Pictures also show threatening messages scrawled on the walls in paint as rioters lay claim to the neighbourhood. National Guard troops clash with protesters against immigration raids in LA Some demanded "Death to Amerikka [sic]", while other walls bore the message "F**k ICE". Amid the turmoil, however, a group of alleged "legal migrant workers" was seen tending to a wounded officer who appeared to have been suffering from the effects of tear-gas. At the Salvadoran restaurant, La Ceiba, workers treated at least one wounded deputy, according to reports. 11 Cops fire rubber bullets at violent demonstrators Credit: EPA 11 A driverless vehicle blazes in the road during the clashes Credit: AFP 11 Demonstrators erected a makeshift barrier to hide behind while launching attacks Credit: Reuters Footage shows the staff washing out an officers' eyes with what appears to be milk and dabbing them with paper towels before they mask-up and head back out. Protests first erupted on Friday after it emerged ICE officers were carrying out raids in Latino-dominated areas of LA. The action targeted undocumented migrants as part of Trump's pledge to crackdown on illegal immigration. The authorities reported that 44 unauthorised immigrants were arrested in one swoop at a job site on Friday. Trump deployed 2,000 national guards to the city to quell days of violent protests - and the clashes only intensified. On Sunday, protesters looted shops, attacked police and vandalised cars before setting them ablaze in the middle of the street. A particularly horrifying scene saw a group of police trapped under a highway bridge by rioters who launched fireworks and, heavy rocks and cement at stranded patrol cars. In response to the escalating chaos agents used tear gas, flash-bang explosives, pepper balls and to push back demonstrators. 11 Trump called in around 2,000 National Guardsmen to restore order to the city Credit: EPA 11 A rioter is arrested on the streets of LA Credit: Getty Dozens of shops have been left with smashed up windows after thieves used the riots to raid local businesses, and the LA Police Department is urging all affected business owners to report damage. Trump has heaped praise on the "great job" done by the National Guard - and taken aim at the California governor Gavin Newsom, who he dubbed "Newscum". Newsom opposed the decision to bring in the National Guard, which he branded "unlawful", sparking a public spat with the President. Trump ordered the bolstered force to storm LA early on Sunday morning to try to restore order. Protesters directed chants of "shame" and "go home" at members of the Guard, who stood shoulder to shoulder, carrying long guns and riot shields. 11 A number of cars blaze away after rioters set them alight Credit: Getty 11 Police horses in riot gear were also used to dispel crowds Credit: Getty Now, 500 US Marines are waiting in a "prepared to deploy" status at a base just 230km east of Los Angeles as the city braces for of the same. On Sunday night, Trump blared: "BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!" and "ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS , NOW!" on Truth Social, indicating he has not intention of backing down. Trump's "border tsar" Tom Homan has warned that someone could "lose their life" if the violence continues. Both official and citizen journalists are documenting the street scenes.
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Australian news reporter shot at during Los Angeles protests
An Australian reporter has confirmed she is 'okay' and 'safe' after she was shot at during protests in Los Angeles over the weekend. Cars were set alight by protestors while federal agents used tear gas to break up crowds over the weekend as tempers flared in LA following ICE [Immigration and Custom Enforcement] operations. More than 100 people have been arrested, with 44 arrested on Friday on suspicion of immigration violations during raids carried out by ICE. Cars were set alight by protestors while federal agents used tear gas to break up crowds over the weekend as tempers flared in Los Angeles following ICE [Immigration and Custom Enforcement] operations. Pic: RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images Sky News report that the raids saw street vendors and day workers 'rounded up,' with the operation prompting backlash from protestors who have chaotically fought back. On Sunday, rioters were seen setting fire to Waymos driverless cars, and celebrating the havoc by dancing on the roofs of cars, waving Mexican flags and chanting, 'burn, burn, burn.' The siege has resulted in the self-driving car company halting all services in and around the area. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 9News (@9news) US President Donald Trump has signed an order to deploy the National Guard in a move heavily criticized by Governor of California Gavin Newsom, who said the President wanted a 'spectacle.' The Governor has been vocal about his disdain towards the President, stating that the 'commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral.' As tempers continue to flare, one person caught in the crossfire was Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi who is the US Correspondent for Aussie news channel 9News. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 9News (@9news) Lauren reported live from the violent scenes which saw a number of protestors verbally attack her and demand she 'report the truth.' Later in her broadcast, Lauren and her cameraman are away from the destructive scenes. Unfortunately, despite being away from protestors, Lauren is then hit in the leg with a rubber bullet by police. Thankfully, the reporter and her cameraman reported that they were both fine, with Lauren speaking to her 9News colleague Peter Overton, who was in the studio. 'I am okay,' she confirmed, 'My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents. It has been a really volatile day on the streets of Los Angeles.' Reporting from Downtown Los Angeles at the time, Lauren confirmed that the whole area had been 'cleared out' with citizens warned they will be arrested if they move through the area. 'There has been a lot of tempers flaring here today and certainly, tonight there is a lot of anger in the City of Angels.'
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Watch: Police car ablaze, journalist hit by rubber bullet in LA protests
National Guard troops were deployed to the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday (June 8) to help quell a third day of protests over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement. Los Angeles police declared several rallies to be "unlawful assemblies" alleging that some protesters threw concrete, bottles and other objects at police. Video footage captured the moment a Australian journalist was struck by a rubber bullet on Sunday whilst reporting live during the Los Angeles protests. 9News reporter, Lauren Tomasi, had just delivered a piece to camera for viewers in Australia when an armed police officer in riot gear behind her shot her with a rubber bullet.
