We can now bring you footage of the driverless cars going up in flames in Los Angeles amid the ongoing protests.

At least three self-driving Waymo cars were burned, with two others vandalised.

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Watch: Waymo driverless cars go up in flames in LA

  • What are Waymos, the cars set alight by protesters?published at 05:58 British Summer Time 9 June

    Peter Hoskins
    Business reporter, Singapore

    As we reported earlier, protesters set fire to Waymo vehicles, which are fully driverless.

    Waymo, which is owned by Google, started offering robotaxis to the public in 2020.

    Three years later, it introduced its fully-driverless service in Los Angeles.

    In LA, its service usually covers 89 square miles from Santa Monica to the downtown area.

    A Waymo self-driving car, seen here with a driver, stops at a red light outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday, 31 March, 2025.Image source, Getty Images
  • Threat to deploy Marines 'escalating' situation', California Governor sayspublished at 05:30 British Summer Time 9 June

    California Governor Gavin Newsom looks away from the camera.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    California Governor Gavin Newsom earlier said Trump's actions are "purposefully inflammatory"

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has said US President Trump's threat to deploy Marines to the demonstrations in Los Angeles is "escalating the situation".

    In a post on X, Newsom said Trump's move came "despite protests already being managed by the LAPD".

    "Los Angeles: Remain peaceful. Don’t fall into the trap that extremists are hoping for," he added.

  • Protesters must leave downtown area immediately, LAPD sayspublished at 05:20 British Summer Time 9 June

    A demonstrator wrapped in a flag looks on as police officers patrol during LA immigration protests in downtown Los Angeles on 8 June 2025Image source, David Swanson via Reuters

    Now into the night, the LA police say protesters have "splintered into and through out the Downtown Area".

    The police force is warning residents, businesses and visitors to "be alert and report any criminal activity".

    "Officers are responding to several different locations to disperse crowds. An 'UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY' is in effect for the Civic Center area of [Downtown Los Angeles]," it wrote on X.

    In a second post, the LAPD declared, "Downtown Los Angeles has been declared as an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. You are to leave the Downtown Area immediately."

  • Protests continue into the night in Los Angelespublished at 05:08 British Summer Time 9 June

    Christal Hayes
    Reporting from Los Angeles

    I’m in downtown Los Angeles with our BBC team and there’s been a constant stream of booms echoing as police work to clear protests.

    The sun has set and street lights came on but many people remain here.

    We’ve seen police using flash bangs and police on horses working to clear streets that are shuttered due to the unrest. At least five cars burned to a crisp within a block of here and multiple cars used by authorities were pelted with objects, including scooters.

    Protesters have split up across the downtown area with some sitting on streets with flags and signs and others facing off with officials. The 101 – a major highway here – is partially blocked off due to the unrest.

    Police officers, some on horseback, are seen in LA at night, with sparks flying around them as protests continueImage source, Reuters
  • Newsom threatens to sue Trump, calls his actions 'illegal'published at 04:58 British Summer Time 9 June

    California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at the Clinton Elementary School in Compton, California on 5 June 2025Image source, Daniel Cole via Reuters

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has called Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard an "illegal" and "immoral" act and threatened to sue the istration.

    "Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He's exacerbated the conditions... he's putting fuel on this fire," he said in an interview with MSNBC.

    "An unconstitutional act, and we're going to test that theory with a lawsuit tomorrow."

    Newsom also called Trump a "stone cold liar", saying the president never brought up the National Guard with him during a phone call after the protests had started.

    Typically, a state's National Guard force is activated at the request of the governor.

    In this case, Trump has circumvented that step by invoking a specific provision of the US Code of Armed Services titled 10 U.S.C. 12406, external, which lists three circumstances under which the president can federalise the National Guard.

    You can read more about how a president can deploy the National Guard here.

  • 'Incendiary devices' thrown at police horses, LAPD sayspublished at 04:52 British Summer Time 9 June

    As clashes continue, LA police have said "incendiary devices" have been used against police horse patrols.

    The police force warned on X that "less lethal munitions have been authorised" to respond to such attacks.

    "Less lethal munitions may cause pain and discomfort," it added.

  • A thick stench of chemicals hangs in the airpublished at 04:40 British Summer Time 9 June

    Christal Hayes
    Reporting from Los Angeles

    Protesters have taken over several streets in downtown, with booms echoing from both fireworks and police munitions.

    Near Union Station – the city’s most utilised transport hub – the remains of five cars sit. The Waymo self-driving vehicles are electric and appear to have almost entirely dissolved. Only the hubcaps and some of the frame of the car remains. There is a thick stench of chemicals in the air and the smell of smoke.

    A burnt out car lies smoking after it was set on fire
  • Waymo suspends service in downtown LApublished at 04:08 British Summer Time 9 June

    Peter Hoskins
    Business reporter, Singapore

    BBC News understands driverless taxi firm Waymo is suspending its service in downtown Los Angeles after several of its cars were set on fire amid the unrest.

    The company is understood to still be operating in the city but has been removing vehicles from the downtown area and is not currently offering services there.

    The Police Department warned, external earlier that burning electric vehicles can "release toxic gases".

    A Waymo self driving car burns as activists protest immigration raids in Los Angeles, California, 8 June 2025.Image source, EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
  • The day in picturespublished at 03:57 British Summer Time 9 June

    The sun is setting in Los Angeles after a third day of demonstrations following immigration raids by US officials. The demonstrations are ongoing.

    This is the day so far in pictures:

    Demonstrators line a motorway slip road and bridge, blocking the age for cars.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Protesters gathered for a third day of demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles

    Two masked police officers square off next to a protester holding an American flag.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Protesters blocked the 101 freeway near downtown Los Angeles

    A shirtless man holding a skateboard stands on top of a damanged vehicle. Behind him, plumes of black smoke rise from another burning vehicle.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Several vehicles were set on fire during the protests

    A crowd of security personnel enforce a barrier in front of protesters, shrouded in smoke. Some of the protesters are holding Mexican and US flags.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Many protesters held Mexican flags during the demonstrations

    Several police officers detain a man, wearing a green t-shirt, during demonstrations in Los Angeles.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Officers detain a protester during demonstrations in Los Angeles

    A protester holding a sign reading "ICE: Out of our communities" stands before burning debris on a Los Angeles street.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Demonstrations came after immigrations raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice)

  • 101 Freeway closes againpublished at 03:46 British Summer Time 9 June

    The LAPD have closed a major road again, shortly after it reopened, posting on X, "Due to demonstrators throwing objects onto the [South Bound] lanes of the 101 Freeway and damaging multiple police vehicles, the 101 SB Freeway will remain closed until further notice."

  • What a Home Depot and a business park reveal about the protestspublished at 03:40 British Summer Time 9 June

    Christal Hayes
    Reporting from Los Angeles

    There is some uncertainty among people in Paramount, in the south of LA county, over how the protests and clashes with law enforcement started on Saturday. Many who live in the community told the BBC they saw immigration enforcement vehicles in the area.

    It caused instant fear and panic – then came reports about raids and the arrests of day labourers at Home Depot, a place where many undocumented migrants across the US go to find work.

    Typically, the Home Depot's parking lot is filled with dozens of day labourers looking for work, people gathered there today told me.

    "No one really knows what happened," a man named Juan told me, as he and two friends gathered around a small pickup in the parking lot. He used to be among the men looking for work there. He still meets with them here on weekends to chit-chat and catch up with old friends in the community.

    "No one is here today. Everyone is too scared to be here," he says of the workers.

    While dozens of migrants have been detained by authorities elsewhere in the area, the rumours of raids at the store were misinformation, according to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    "Despite false reports, there was no ICE 'raid' at a Home Depot in LA," the DHS told the BBC.

    You can read our full story here.

  • Trump implies without evidence that protesters are 'paid insurrectionists'published at 03:30 British Summer Time 9 June

    US president Donald Trump has posted, without providing evidence, the words 'Paid Insurrectionists!' on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns.

    The post came shortly after Trump wrote, "Governor Gavin Newscum and “Mayor” Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing LA riots. These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists. , NO MASKS!"

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged protests earlier to keep their demonstrations peaceful and said 'We stand with all Angelinos'.

    California Governor Gavin Newsom said that Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to demonstrations was "purposefully inflammatory".

  • As protests rage, others gather for LA Pride paradepublished at 03:21 British Summer Time 9 June

    Christal Hayes
    Reporting from Los Angeles

    People hold up a rainbow flag for the LA Pride parade in HollywoodImage source, Getty Images

    On the other side of town, there's a very different scene unfolding.

    Multiple streets are blocked by authorities, but not for protest - for the LA Pride parade.

    People are in their best rainbow attire and dancing for an event in Hollywood that organisers say brings more than 100,000 to the area. The Los Angeles area holds numerous pride events throughout the month of June, which is Pride Month.

    A few miles away in downtown Los Angeles is still packed with immigration protests that show no sign of letting up.

  • Around 500 Marines 'prepared to deploy', says US Northern Commandpublished at 03:13 British Summer Time 9 June

    Around 500 Marines are on a "prepared to deploy" status in response to demonstrations in Los Angeles, according to a statement issued by the US Northern Command.

    The Marines are from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, around 230km east of Los Angeles.

    The statement said that the Marines would be deployed "should they be necessary to augment and the DoD's [Department of Defense] protection of federal property and personnel efforts".

    There are already around 2000 California Army National guard soldiers under federal command, the statement said.

  • Flags seen at the protestspublished at 03:01 British Summer Time 9 June

    You may have seen images of a red, white and green flag at the protests – with some waving the flags, and others wrapping them around their shoulders.

    Most of these are the Mexican flag, which is green, white and red, with an eagle crest at its centre.

    Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said 35 "Mexican migrants" were among those detained on 7 June by US authorities.

    The American flag (red, white and blue) is also beign waved by protesters, as is the Palestinian flag (red, black, green and white). The California state flag is white, red and green, with a bear at its centre.

    Demonstrators are seen behind white smoke, holding American and Mexican flags.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Demonstrators take part in a protest against federal immigration sweeps, amid smoke and law enforcement officers, in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, 8 June 2025.

  • Major road reopens after police disperse protesterspublished at 02:48 British Summer Time 9 June

    We reported earlier that protesters had brought traffic to a standstill on the 101 freeway, a major route in downtown Los Angeles.

    Now police are confirming that they have dispersed the demonstrators and the road has reopened.

    The California Highway Patrol said on X that a number of arrests had been made as they cleared the highway.

  • New 'dispersal order' issued by LAPDpublished at 02:45 British Summer Time 9 June

    The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a new "dispersal order" for the area near Temple and Main Street, in downtown Los Angeles, calling for people to leave the area.

    "Less lethal munitions have been authorized. Less lethal munitions may cause pain and discomfort," the LAPD said, in a statement issued on X.

    "Demonstrators are using chairs, garbage bins and other items to blockade the street," it added.

  • Watch: 'We stand with all Angelinos', says LA Mayorpublished at 02:41 British Summer Time 9 June

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told media a short while ago that "what we're seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the istration".

    "When you run armoured caravans through our streets, you cause fear and you cause panic," she added.

    Media caption,

    'We stand with all Angelinos' says LA Mayor

  • White House: Trump 'rightfully stepped in to restore law and order'published at 02:30 British Summer Time 9 June

    The White House has said that President Donald Trump "rightfully stepped in to restore law and order because of Gavin Newsom's feckless leadership and his refusal to stop the violent attacks on American law enforcement".

    White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued the statement after California Governor Gavin Newsom said that Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to demonstrations was "purposefully inflammatory".

    The White House statement continued: "It’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved. Everyone saw the chaos, violence, and lawlessness – unless, of course, Gavin Newsom doesn’t think any of that is a problem.”