LA burns on camera: Most shocking videos of city riots show police cars pelted with rocks, van driven into crowd, a reporter getting SHOT and mindless destruction

Daily Mail​

9 hours ago

Shocking video has shown how violent riots plunged Los Angeles into chaos, with a van seen ploughing into a crowd, protesters torching cars and throwing rocks at cops, and journalists shot with rubber bullets as authorities staged a brutal crackdown.
Horrifying footage filmed by motorists showed people running for their lives as a people carrier was driven full-speed into a crowd, with reports that several protesters were injured.
The driver of the vehicle - reported to be shirtless as he launched the attack - spun it around in circles and reversed it multiple times in an apparent attempt to hit people, and was later arrested.
The clashes erupted between law enforcement and protesters following immigration raids across the US, with Donald Trump responding to the violence by ordering the deployment of the National Guard.
Rioters were filmed driving motorcycles at cops and blockading streets, with the carnage grinding Downtown LA to a complete halt as authorities declared it an 'unlawful assembly' area.
Balaclava-clad protesters waving Mexican flags were caught on camera standing on top of wrecked Waymo driverless cars, while huge infernos were seen rising from burnt-out vehicles.
Footage showed how in one vicious attack, officers were forced to shelter under an overpass on the 101 Freeway as they were hammered with fiery missiles, e-scooters and other projectiles from above.
The road had to be closed to traffic as police desperately tried to extinguish the fires, but thugs continued to pelt the cars and cops, with one rioter seen lighting a piece of tinder and launching it at a vehicle to cause maximum damage.
Earlier in the day, authorities were filmed raining down rubber bullets and tear gas on demonstrators - the majority of whom were peaceful - as they marched against President Trump's nationwide crackdown on illegal migrants.
Multiple journalists covering the riots were reportedly struck by the non-lethal bullets, with dramatic footage showing the moment a TV news reporter was hit.
Video shows a car being ploughed into protesters amid the riots in Los Angeles. A man was reportedly arrested after the incident
US correspondent for Australia's Nine News Lauren Tomasi was speaking to camera about the 'rapidly deteriorating' situation on Sunday evening when she was hit. 'You just f***ing shot a reporter,' a protester could be heard yelling at nearby police.
A British news photographer who was hit by a non-lethal bullet while documenting the clashes later had to undergo emergency surgery to remove shrapnel from his leg.
Nick Stern was shot in the thigh by a 'sponge bullet' and needed to be helped to safety by protesters before passing out from the pain, he told PA. He is now recovering in hospital.
News reporters from around the world were filmed wearing helmets, bulletproof vests and even gas masks as they covered the clashes.
Meanwhile, around a dozen National Guard members, along with Department of Homeland Security personnel, pushed back a group of demonstrators outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, video showed.
Some of the most horrifying images to emerge from the carnage on Sunday came from Downtown LA, where at least five Waymo self-driving cars were set alight and vandalized, prompting an indefinite shutdown of Los Angeles St north of Arcadia, and south of Alameda amid safety concerns about the lithium batteries.
Horrifying vision captured the moment these rioters set fire to the robotaxis and celebrated the carnage by dancing on the roof of cars and waving Mexican flags.
'Burn, burn, burn,' the protesters cheered.
'Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby,' authorities said.
One protester repeatedly smashed the driver side window of a Waymo which had been surrounded by demonstrators as flames engulfed another car nearby.
Waymo was forced to halt all services in and around the under-siege protest areas in an effort to protect the remainder of the fleet.
Each self driving robotaxi is estimated to be worth about $150,000.
At least two officers were injured after motorcyclists ploughed through rioters and ran straight over the top of authorities. Both of the riders have been detained by police as the officers are treated by medical personnel on the scene.
Elsewhere, officers were reportedly struck by fireworks as they worked to break up a violent crowd, while protesters were filmed brandishing 3D creations of Trump's severed head on a pole.
US Northern Command said 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three spots in the LA area. Their mission was limited to protecting federal personnel and property. Around 500 Marines were also said to be on standby.
Trump earlier said around 300 National Guard troops were deployed with another 1,700 due to arrive.
Meanwhile the LAPD has authorized the 'use of less lethal munitions' to regain control of the city.
Cops in riot gear were seen dragging protesters away amid dozens of arrests, while one clip showed mounted officers beating a seemingly unarmed man with a stick.
Demonstrators told AFP the purpose of the troops did not appear to be to keep order, with one calling it an 'intimidation tactic.'
'You have the National Guard with loaded magazines and large guns standing around trying to intimidate Americans from exercising our First Amendment rights,' protester Thomas Henning said.
Riot cops armed with batons are seen lining up near protesters as smoke rises in the background
Rioters have set fire to driverless cars and been pictured waving Mexican flags and anti-ICE placards in LA
Police officers move to clear activists protesting immigration raids from the road near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles
The conflict has sparked a war of words between Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused him of intentionally inflaming tensions.
'Despite protests already being managed by LAPD Headquarters, President Trump is escalating the situation by threatening to deploy roughly 500 active-duty Marines to the streets of Los Angeles,' he wrote on social media.
'Los Angeles: Remain peaceful. Don't fall into the trap that extremists are hoping for.'
Trump hit back at Newsom's criticism with a Truth Social post on Sunday demanding both he and LA Mayor Karen Bass apologize for the riots, insisting those involved are not 'peaceful protesters' as the duo had claimed, but instead 'troublemakers and insurrectionists.'
Under siege, authorities last night declared the entirety of Downtown LA an 'unlawful assembly' area and ordered anyone in the vicinity to 'leave immediately.'
'Agitators have splintered into and through out the Downtown Area. Residents, businesses and visitors to the Downtown Area should be alert and report any criminal activity,' police said.
According to reports, an officer in a police helicopter which circled the site of a protest in downtown LA could be heard announcing to people on the ground: 'I have all of you on camera. I'm going to come to your house.'
Fires were lit across the city, many of which were started when Waymo self-driving taxis were targeted, with video showing pyres built up with cones and other debris.
Further footage showed a man armed with a hammer smashing in the windows of a police car.
Video showed a man, seemingly unarmed, being beaten with a wooden stick by a mounted police officer.
Police horses were also targeted as they made their way through the streets, with rioters seen throwing projectiles.
Cannisters of tear gas which police had used to disperse the crowds were instead picked up and thrown back at officers.
LA Authorities were considering implementing a curfew to quell the violence and will re-evaluate if such drastic measures are necessary as the night progresses.
Immigration officials, National Guard troops and the LAPD used rubber bullets and flash bangs in an effort to control the never-ending onslaught of an estimated 6,000 protesters, with 500 Marines on standby to join the defensive lines.
At least 60 rioters were arrested on Sunday during skirmishes across Downtown LA which stretched into a third day, bringing the total tally of arrests for the chaotic weekend to 89.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said demonstrators were arriving to protests armed with hammers and cinder blocks, throwing chunks of concrete or enormous rocks at officers simply doing their jobs.
Asked at a news conference on Sunday night if LA needed the National Guard, McDonnell said he would have to 'make a reassessment', adding: 'Looking at tonight, you know, this thing has gotten out of control.'
'We are overwhelmed We had individuals out there shooting commercial grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill ya.'
Many, he said, were wearing masks - a direct violation of Trump's 'no masks' mandate.
The comments sparked a furious response from Trump, who wrote on Truth Social: 'arrest the people in face masks, now!'
In another post, Trump added: 'Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!'
'Jim McDonnell, the highly respected LAPD Chief, just stated that the protesters are getting very much more aggressive, and that he would 'have to reassess the situation,' as it pertains to bringing in the troops. He should, RIGHT NOW!!! Don't let these thugs get away with this.'
Three officers were injured in the harrowing scenes amid concerns that the clashes could turn deadly as rioters used fireworks and heavy rocks to attack authorities.
At the 101 Freeway, which was the epicenter of conflict on Sunday, officers were forced to hunker under an overpass as they faced a barrage of missiles from above.
Extraordinary footage captured by independent journalist Cam Higby showed a small contingent of Los Angeles highway patrol officers under siege by protesters who had seized control of the overpass above them.
The protesters threw tinder lit on fire in an effort to blow up the police cars below, and attacked officers with rocks and tear gas from above when they made any effort to extinguish the flames.
Earlier in the evening authorities faced an uphill battle to contain violence on the same stretch of road.
More than 2,000 protesters commandeered northbound and southbound traffic, grinding motorists to a complete halt as they marched with flags and signs high above their heads.
Motorists stuck on the unmoving freeway were instructed to turn around in an effort to clear the traffic, as even more rioters gathered on overpasses and ramps.
The freeway was briefly reopened but authorities had to shut it down once again as demonstrators began tossing missiles off the overpass.
Witnesses claimed demonstrators were setting tinder alight and firing rocks from the overpass, aiming at police patrol vehicles as they passed by.
As authorities in LA struggled to contain demonstrators, the carnage spread to San Francisco where vandals trashed buildings and violently clashed with police in riot gear.
Trump on Sunday issued an extraordinary directive vowing to 'liberate Los Angeles' from illegal aliens which have 'invaded and occupied a once great American city.'
A combined effort led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi will restore order, Trump said.
He directed his key personnel to 'to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these migrant riots.
'Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday afternoon.
Trump lamented the current state of the city, expressing concern that 'a once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals.
'Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations.'
But he vowed 'these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve' as images emerge of troops on the ground in the downtown area of the city ready to defend the city from more violent demonstrations.
The president congratulated the National Guard on doing a 'great job' in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning, although they hadn't arrived yet.
But Governor Newsom shared a very different perspective just hours later, revealing he has urged Trump to ' rescind the order [and] return control to California.'
'We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved,' Newsom said in his extraordinary rebuke.
'This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed.
'These are the acts of a dictator, not a President.'
Trump issued several late night Truth Social statements in the wake of the carnage
Mayor Bass echoed those statements, telling CNN: 'This sows chaos that is not warranted nor needed in the city of Los Angeles.
'It's as though troops were rolled out in a provocative manner and I do not see how that is helpful to Los Angeles right now, it's not the type of resources that we need in the city.
'We do not need to have our city under siege.'
Democrat Representative Maxine Waters, a staunch critic of the president, called the deployment of National Guard troops an unnecessary escalation, asking as she stood outside Metropolitan Detention Center: 'Why are they out here with guns?'.
'Who are you going to shoot?' she asked the two dozen soldiers present. 'If you're going to shoot me, you better shoot straight.'
Former Vice President Kamala Harris echoed the sentiments from fellow Democrats on Sunday, denouncing the ICE raids which sparked the civil unrest.
'Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos,' Harris wrote in a statement on X.
'In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump Administration's cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division.'
Trump hit back with a Truth Social post on Sunday demanding both Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass apologize for the LA riots, insisting those involved are not 'peaceful protesters' as the duo had claimed, but instead 'troublemakers and insurrectionists.'
Defending Trump, border czar Tom Homan described Newsom as an embarrassment to the state and warned 'it's a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.'
Newsom quickly hit back at Homan, daring the border czar to put him in handcuffs as the conflict descended into a childish tit-for-tat despite the crisis on his doorstep.
'Come and arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy. I don't give a damn,' he told MSNBC Sunday evening.
'He's a tough guy. Why doesn't he do that? He knows where to find me.'
The crisis even saw Trump's friend-turned-foe Elon Musk rush to his defense, sharing several comments on X expressing horror over the scenes of violence.
'This is not ok,' he wrote alongside one image of a rioter on top of a vandalized car. Separately, he reshared Trump's Truth Social post criticizing Newsom and Bass.
These riots came against the backdrop of Trump's latest immigration raid, targeting the safe haven of Los Angeles on Friday.
DHS said in a statement that the recent ICE operations resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants.
Homan said those arrested included child sex offenders, gang members and national security threats.
'They arrested a lot of bad people yesterday and today,' Homan asserted. 'We're making Los Angeles safer.'
Homan also remarked that ICE agents were often wearing masks as they conducted raids because they were worried about their families being doxed.