Moment LA cops shoot reporter on live TV while Brit photographer is hospitalised by rubber bullet during street anarchy
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.
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'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.'
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Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
What we know about the Los Angeles immigration raids and protests
Why you can trust Sky News Tensions in Los Angeles are escalating after Donald Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to tackle protests against his administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. Writing on Truth Social on Sunday evening as protesters clashed with federal officers, the US president said: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!." More than 100 suspected illegal immigrants have been detained in the city by federal officers after three days of demonstrations. 0:46 How did the protests start? Demonstrations broke out in southern California after federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) carried out raids across Los Angeles. Two Home Depots and a clothing wholesaler were among the locations targeted, with workers suspected of being illegal immigrants detained. Over the weekend, the DHS said ICE arrested 118 immigrants in LA, including 44 people on Friday. 0:42 The first protests broke out on Friday at the sites of the raids in downtown Los Angeles, before spreading on Saturday to Paramount - a heavily Latino city south of LA - and neighbouring Compton. Crowds tried to stop federal agents from driving away by throwing bins at vehicles and blocking the roads. Since taking office for the second time in January, Mr Trump has signed several executive orders on the mass deportation of immigrants. He's pledged to deport record numbers of people who have entered the country illegally and lock down the US-Mexico border, setting ICE a goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants a day. As a result, raids have ramped up, with several being reported across the US this year. 2:14 Why did Trump deploy the National Guard? On Saturday, Mr Trump ordered the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard troops to LA - invoking a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority" of the US government. California Governor Gavin Newsom called Mr Trump's order "purposefully inflammatory" and warned it would "only escalate tensions", before adding the deployment was "the wrong mission and will erode public trust". 2:08 The National Guard was deployed specifically to protect federal buildings, including a downtown detention centre where protesters had gathered. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the last time the National Guard was deployed without a governor's permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama. Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday: "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" 2:44 What's been happening since then? Sunday's protests were the most fierce yet. In the morning, troops carrying long guns and riot shields faced off with protesters who shouted "shame" and "go home". After some approached the National Guard members, another set of uniformed officers advanced on the group, shooting smoke-filled canisters into the street. Minutes later, the Los Angeles Police Department fired rounds of crowd-control munitions to disperse the protesters. Much of the group then moved to block traffic on the 101 Freeway until state patrol officers cleared them by late afternoon. Around 300 National Guard troops were deployed to three separate locations, according to US Northern Command. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said later that officers were "overwhelmed" by the remaining protesters, and claimed the group included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble. Several dozen people have been arrested throughout the weekend, with one detained on Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police, and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. What has the reaction been? Mr Newsom has since formally requested that the Trump Administration "rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command". He said: "We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty - inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. "Rescind the order. Return control to California." In an interview with MSNBC, Mr Newsom added he planned to sue the administration over the deployment. Mayor Bass urged Los Angeles residents: "Don't engage in violence and chaos... Don't give the administration what they want." However, Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and a political adviser to Mr Trump, described the city as "occupied territory" and accused the mayor of taking "sides with the criminal invaders and rioters over the federal law enforcement officers". In other social media posts, he called the demonstrations an "insurrection" and said: "We will take back America." Vice president JD Vance said: "Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers, while one half of America's political leadership has decided that border enforcement is evil." He then called for the president's One Big Beautiful Bill Act - a budget reconciliation bill that also boosts Border Patrol and ICE agents - to be passed by the Senate.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Trump orders the arrest of everyone in face masks and says 'bring in the troops' as LA burns, looting breaks out and violence spirals out of control following ICE protests
Donald Trump declared 'bring in the troops' and called for the arrest of anyone wearing face masks as violent clashes between law enforcement and protesters rocked Los Angeles overnight. Rioters set fire to driverless cars, looted stores, driven motorcycles at lines of cops and created blockades to grind downtown LA to a complete halt as the chaos in the city stretched into its third day. In one vicious attack, officers were trapped under an overpass on the 101 Freeway while protesters lobbed fiery missiles and rocks from above. Elsewhere, riot police rained rubber bullets and tear gas on demonstrators. The protests exploded on Friday after a series of deportation raids in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Trump said around 300 National Guard troops were deployed with another 1,700 due to arrive on Monday. The US Northern Command said around 500 Marines were on standby. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass blasted Trump for what they call a heavy-handed response. They insist the protesters were mostly 'peaceful' - despite photos and videos showing total anarchy unfolding in the streets. At the 101 Freeway, which has been the epicenter of conflict on Sunday, officers were forced to hunker under an overpass as they faced a barrage of fiery missiles from above 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. San Francisco Police also declared gatherings 'unlawful gatherings' in the city's financial district, reporting that rioters there injured two 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. Police horses were targeted as they made their way through the streets with deadly explosives, while cannisters of tear gas which police had used to disperse the crowds were instead picked up and thrown back at officers. At the 101 Freeway, which has been 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. The scenes of carnage came on the back of an edict by Trump to send in as many as 2,000 National Guard troops, with a further 500 Marines placed on standby - sparking fury among California officials. A man who appeared to aim his van at a crowd of protesters was among dozens detained on Sunday night, with police warning charges are likely to follow. As LA fell to the rioters on Sunday night, Governor Gavin Newsom was locked in a war of words with federal officials, taunting Trump's border czar with a threat to 'arrest him.' He has vowed to sue the federal administration over the 'illegal, immoral and unconstitutional' deployment of the National Guard, which he maintains stoked the violence and increased agitation on Sunday. But a lawsuit will do little to quell the concerns of authorities on the ground who were desperately trying to restore order before nightfall amid concerns that violence historically ramps up as the sun sets. 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. At the Los Angeles City Hall, authorities on horseback were locked in a tense standoff with even more demonstrators, sparking fears from local law enforcement officers that they were in for a 'rough night.' Throughout the day, police deployed 'less lethal munitions' in response to violent attacks by protesters. Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center were warned that the LAPD incident commander had approved the use of such weapons. 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. Meanwhile Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was fired upon with a rubber bullet while delivering a live cross to the network in an area which had been given an 'unlawful assembly' designation. The LAPD began issuing rolling dispersal orders and declaring some of the protests acts of 'unlawful assembly' as violence ramped up on Sunday afternoon. At the site of another dispersal order near Temple Street and Main Street, demonstrators are 'using chairs, garbage bins and other items to blockade the street.' By early afternoon the city had been placed on 'tactical alert', meaning all of the department's officers were put on notice that they could be called up for service at any given moment. Officers who were already on duty were not allowed to end their shift until they had been relieved by their commanders, and residents of Los Angeles were warned that low priority calls may go unanswered while the alert is ongoing. That order came after Trump 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 Karen 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 were set 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. By Saturday night federal agents reported having arrested more than a dozen 'agitators who impeded agents in their ability to conduct law enforcement operations.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
LA Protests Live: Downtown LA declared unlawful assembly area after third day of anti-ICE unrest
08:06 EDT What is happening in LA? 7 minutes ago 08:03 EDT Jorge Garcia Police have declared all of downtown Los Angeles to be an unlawful assembly area and ordered protesters to go home, after Sunday saw a third day of violence hit demonstrations against President Donald Trump's immigration policy. National Guard troops were deployed by Trump at the weekend to help quell the protests, a move California Governor Gavin Newsom called unlawful. They guarded federal government buildings on Sunday. The unrest in Los Angeles has become a major flashpoint in Trump's signature effort to clamp down on illegal immigration. The U.S. president has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, setting the border enforcement agency ICE a daily goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants. California state and local officials, mainly Democrats, accuse Trump of inflaming initially small-scale protests by mounting a federal response. He calls the protesters insurrectionists. Los Angeles police said some protesters had thrown concrete projectiles, bottles and other items at police. Police declared several rallies to be unlawful assemblies and later extended that to include the whole downtown area. Police said they had arrested 10 people on Sunday and 29 the previous night, adding arrests were continuing.
