logo
Moment LA cops shoot reporter on live TV while Brit photographer is hospitalised by rubber bullet during street anarchy

Moment LA cops shoot reporter on live TV while Brit photographer is hospitalised by rubber bullet during street anarchy

The Irish Sun9 hours ago

THIS is the moment a TV journalist was shot live on air as she reported on the violent immigration riots in Los Angeles.
Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi was covering the protests for Nine News when she was blasted at close range by a rubber bullet, collapsing in agony mid-broadcast.
2
Lauren Tomasi was reporting live from the streets of LA amid the violent protests in the city
2
The Australian reporter was shot with a rubber bullet by riot police live on air
Credit: X
'The LAPD are moving in on horseback and firing rubber bullets at protesters,' Tomasi told viewers, as loud bangs echoed across Downtown LA.
Suddenly, a police officer swung his weapon towards her, and a cloud of smoke erupted near the correspondent.
Caught on camera, Tomasi doubled over in pain, live on air.
'You just f***ing shot a reporter!' a furious protester screamed at police, as others rushed to help the injured Aussie.
Despite the shocking moment, Tomasi managed to yell back, 'I'm good, I'm good.'
Her network later confirmed she was 'left sore but otherwise unharmed' by the impact — but the image of a journalist being targeted has already sparked outrage.
It comes after a British photojournalist was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery when a 'sponge bullet' tore through his thigh during the same night of violence.
Nick Stern, 60, from Hertford, said he had made himself clearly visible as a member of the press when he was shot while photographing a standoff between protesters and riot cops.
Most read in The US Sun
'I felt this horrific shooting pain impacting my leg. I felt down immediately and felt this large lump … protesters came to help and I was just saying, 'Sit me down, sit me down'… then I blacked out,' he told
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos
.
Like us on Facebook at

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Meet London-based ‘Hamas operative' behind Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla' stunt that was foiled by Israel
Meet London-based ‘Hamas operative' behind Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla' stunt that was foiled by Israel

The Irish Sun

time15 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

Meet London-based ‘Hamas operative' behind Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla' stunt that was foiled by Israel

A MAN accused in parliament of being a Hamas operative based in London was one of the organisers of Greta Thunberg's "Freedom Flotilla", it has emerged. Zaher Birawi, who has been photographed with slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, was present at the launch of the British-flagged yacht Madleen. 7 Zaher Al-Birawi, who is close to the Hamas leadership, speaks at anti-Israel protest in London 7 Mr Birawi pictured with Ismael Haniyeh, the former Hamas Leader, in 2012 Credit: Courtesy of Ministry of Strategic Affairs 7 Greta Thunberg is offered a sandwich by an Israeli soldier Credit: Alamy Live News 7 A photo posted on Telegram purportedly showing activists with their hands up on board the Madleen Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition As a Palestinian-British journalist, Mr Birawi is chair of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza. He also runs a UK-registered charity called Education Aid for Palestinians, which has raised more than £3 million since 2017. Just a week ago, Mr Birawi was present at the launch of Madleen and live-streamed the event from a dock in Sicily. He called himself the 'founding member' of the Freedom Flotilla International Coalition - which arranged Madleen's voyage to Gaza. The 'selfie yacht' has now been seized by Israel, and all the people onboard have been detained. Labour MP Christian Wakeford named Mr Birawi in the Commons using special parliamentary protections that protect him from being sued. Mr Birawi said Mr Wakeford's claim was 'baseless' and that he was looking at 'all available legal recourse' in response to the MP's comments. According to Israel's strategic affairs ministry, Mr Birawi moved to the UK in the 1990s, has 'close ties to Hamas' and worked for several pro-Palestinian NGOs - including one tied to Hamas. Most read in The Sun In 2023, The Sun on Sunday revealed Mr Birawi lived in a £500,000 semi-detached house in leafy north London. MP for Bury South Mr Wakeford raised concerns over a 'serious national security risk' from 'Hamas operatives'. Israel issues warning to Greta's 'Freedom Flotilla' as eco-pest SAILS to Gaza He told the Commons: '[Mr Birawi] was designated by Israel in 2013 as a senior Hamas operative in Europe. 'He is listed as a trustee of a UK-registered charity Education Aid for Palestinians, and a publicly available video shows him hosting a 2019 event in London titled 'Understanding Hamas'. 'Two weeks ago, Hamas launched the deadly terrorist attack the world has seen since 9/11. 'This House rightly voted to proscribe Hamas in its entirety in November 2021. It is therefore a serious national security risk for Hamas operatives to be living here in London." There is no suggestion that Mr Birawi was involved in the deadly October 7 terror attacks. He said: 'I have been made aware of the fact that the Member of Parliament for Bury South, Christian Wakefield, made a reference to my name in the proceedings of the House of Commons on October 26. 'Regrettably, this mention appears to have been motivated by an intent to besmirch my character and, potentially, to rationalise any harm that may befall me or my family. 'In a time when we should all exercise vigilance and contemplate the potential consequences of our words, particularly their capacity to incite violence and animosity, Mr Wakefield chose a contrary course of action. 'I wish to reaffirm that what the respected MP said about the accusation is baseless and that it is part of the distortion attempts undertaken by the occupying state to prevent activists supporting Palestinian rights from carrying out their duties in supporting the Palestinian human rights.' 7 Greta Thunberg is one of the 12 people aboard the vessel 7 The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it is carrying essential supplies to the Gazan population Credit: Getty 7 Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship headed to the Strip Credit: Getty Hamas has been proscribed as a terror group in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000 since 2021. Swedish eco warrior Greta, ten other activists and a journalist were on the Madleen when it left the Italian isle of Sicily last week. Israel accused the Freedom Flotilla Coalition of supporting Hamas terrorists. The 'selfie yacht' operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition was said to be "safely making its way to the shores of Israel", Israel's Foreign Minsitry said. All passengers were safe and unharmed and activists handed out sandwiches and water before the vessel docked at the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. The boat was carrying a "tiny amount of aid" on board - which will be sent to Gaza. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said that he has instructed the Israeli Defence Forces to screen footage of the 7 October attacks as soon as they arrive. Who is on board the "Freedom Flotilla"? Greta Thunberg - Swedish climate activist Rima Hassan – French-Palestinian MEP Yasemin Acar – German activist Thiago Avila – Brazilian activist Omar Faiad – French journalist Pascal Maurieras – French activist Yanis Mhamdi – French reporter Suayb Ordu – Turkish activist Sergio Toribio – Spanish activist Marco van Rennes – Dutch activist Reva Viard – French activist Liam Cunningham - Irish Game of Thrones actor Baptiste Andre - French Physician The disturbing footage - titled "Bearing Witness" - shows innocent people being massacred and mutilated. And all the footage was taken from the Hamas terrorists' bodycams as they filmed their massacre. Hamas branded the interception of the yacht as a "crime of piracy". Read more on the Irish Sun The group said in a statement that activists were on a "humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and exposing the crime of mass starvation." It added that Israel's action was "organised state terrorism, a clear violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian motives."

Australian news reporter shot at during Los Angeles protests
Australian news reporter shot at during Los Angeles protests

Extra.ie​

time2 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.'

I'm the famous Peru Two drug mule – this is my warning to Brit tourists… and how gangs know EXACTLY who to target
I'm the famous Peru Two drug mule – this is my warning to Brit tourists… and how gangs know EXACTLY who to target

The Irish Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

I'm the famous Peru Two drug mule – this is my warning to Brit tourists… and how gangs know EXACTLY who to target

PERU Two drug mule Michaella McCollum has warned Brit tourists about how trafficking gangs lure young girls into their criminal operations. The infamous drug trafficker 8 Peru Two drug mule Michaella McCollum has warned Brit tourists about how trafficking gangs lure young girls into their criminal operations Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 8 Brit Bella May Culley was arrested in Tbilisi airport, Georgia, with a suitcase packed with drugs Credit: Facebook 8 Charlotte May Lee, 21, former TUI flight attendant from Coulsdon, was allegedly recruited to smuggle drugs into Sri Lanka Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Since being freed from a hellhole jail in Lima, McCollum transformed her life and is now a mum and public speaker. Part of her work includes exposing how foreign drug operations try and recruit British mules. The 31-year-old appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning to speak on the increasing danger of Brits being preyed upon abroad. It comes after a spate of young women being arrested on trafficking charges including read more in Brit drug mules McCollum told Susanna Reid that people are often picked by drug chiefs specifically due to how vulnerable they appear. She explained: "That's what they do these organisations, they have people that are pickers and their job is to pick people to become mules. "They'll target vulnerabilities which might be age because at 19 or 20 you're incredibly naive, you're easy to manipulate. "Then women as well as obviously women tend to be groomed and coerced in situations a lot more. Most read in The Sun "Then whether you have a drug addiction as that could also be a vulnerability." McCollum was aged 19 at the time of her first being recruited with her Peru Two partner Reid being only 20. Charlotte May Lee fears being locked away for 20yrs over £1.2m Sri Lanka drugs bust – & is 'aware' of Bella Culley case She has also been open about her drug habits around the time of her arrest as she believes this contributed to her recruitment. Bella Culley - the teen arrested in Georgia last month - was Michaella also revealed that the drug kingpins ordering young women to become traffickers are masters at manipulation. She says that when she was first coerced into taking a suitcase of cocaine across the border her bosses convinced her that everything would be okay. Michaella was made to feel like a "little girl" when she questioned the dangers of smuggling, she said. Her concerns were always met with simple solutions, she added. She recalled once asking about how they would get the drugs through the airport before being told the airport staff is in cahoots with the operations being carried out and allow them. By the time she realised the answers were a lie, Michaelle said she was already in handcuffs. 8 Michaella McCollum entering the Sarita Colonia jail with a police escort in October, 2013 Credit: EPA 8 McCollum told Susanna Reid that people are often picked by drug chiefs specifically due to how vulnerable they appear Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 8 Michaella McCollum is now a mum-of-two and author Credit: Instagram/@Michaella_McCollum She continued: "You have to understand that the level of manipulation that goes on behind it as it's not just overnight, it can be weeks of manipulation. "They ended up making me believe that this was totally fine. I was being dramatic, I was being naive to question it. "So I was so scared to say no and men know they can manipulate women to do things and I was so scared to just say no." Both Peru Two mules became friends when holidaying in Ibiza in August 2013 and were soon coerced into cocaine trafficking. But in October, they were arrested as they stepped off a lane in Lima, Peru. McCollum and Reid were convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to six years and eight months in a dismal Ancon 2 prison. At the time, the pair's horror trip led them to becoming household names as they both admitted to being used by the gangs. In recent weeks, a string of British women have faced similar worrying experiences after being A couple claiming to be tourists from Thailand were busted with more than 33kg of cannabis in their suitcases at a Spanish airport in May. Why Brit backpackers are prime targets, Thai cop reveals By Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Musikim, Deputy Inspector of the Surat Thani province police force, said: 'Cases involving British nationals smuggling cannabis have been around for a while. 'There is a lot of cannabis grown on Thailand's islands in the south because the climate is suitable and it is legal. A lot of gangs are attracted to this. 'There are now various smuggling methods that we have seen. Some carry it themselves, some hire backpackers, and some send it via mail. 'This year, there have been many cases we have intercepted. Most involve British and Malaysian nationals. 'It's easy for British citizens to travel as they can enter Thailand and return to the UK without needing a visa. 'Most of the smugglers are people hired to carry the cannabis, similar to how tourists might smuggle tax-free goods. 'They're usually unemployed individuals from the UK. The gangs offer them flights, pocket money and hotel stays, just to come and travel and take a bag back home with them. 'These people often have poor social standing at home and are looking for ways to earn quick money. They find them through friends or on social media. 'Many will go to festivals or parties while they are here, just like they are having a normal trip abroad. 'They are told that it is easy and they will not be caught. Then the amount the organisers can sell the cannabis for in the UK is much higher than it costs in Thailand. 'Police suspect that there are multiple employers and groups receiving the drugs on the other end. The cannabis then enters the UK market. 'We are being vigilant to ensure there are no routes out of the country.' A allegedly smuggling nearly £200,000 worth of Thai cannabis into Spain. But the two largest and most concerning cases covered Bella and Charlotte. Bella sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while holidaying in Thailand. However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been She was allegedly carrying 30 pounds (14kg) of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation. Around the same time, 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, from Coulsdon, south London, was also The former flight attendant is now facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted. 8 Bella pictured in court in Tbilisi after she was detained at a Georgian airport Credit: East2West 8 Charlotte, a former TUI flight attendant from Coulsdon, seen after she appeared in court in Colombo, Sri Lanka Credit: Enterprise

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store