10 hours ago
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.'
