Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says 9News US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was targeted when she was shot by a rubber bullet while covering intensifying protests over mass immigration raids and arrests in Los Angeles.
Tomasi had wrapped up a live cross from outside the city’s detention centre on Sunday when an officer turned his gun towards her and fired from close range.
Footage of the moment has been shared worldwide, sparking domestic calls for Albanese to raise the matter with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada this week.
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Albanese said the incident had been brought to the attention of the US administration, but shied away from confirming whether he would personally hold discussions with Trump.
“We have already raised these issues with the US administration. We don’t find it acceptable that it occurred, and we think that the role of the media is particularly important,” he said at his first National Press Club since his re-election in May.
“Discussions I have with the president are discussions between myself and the president. That’s the way that I deal with people; diplomatically, appropriately and with respect,” he added.
The prime minister condemned the “horrific” attack, adding that footage showed police had clearly targeted Tomasi.
”She was clearly identified. There was no ambiguity. She wasn’t wearing a trackie. She was wearing … something that identified her as media,” he said.
“It is not acceptable … I respect the role that the media play, and people should respect the role that the media play in our modern society.”
Albanese said he spoke with Tomasi earlier today.
“She’s going okay. She’s pretty resilient,” he said.
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Tomasi, who yelled in pain and turned away when she was shot, has since confirmed she is sore but otherwise unharmed.
“I am okay. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe,” she said on 9News’ 6pm bulletin last night.
“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.”
https://twitter.com/LaurenTomasi/status/1932129000358642126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said he was aware and concerned about the media being caught in the fire.
“It is a target-specific munition. That’s not to say that it always hits the intended target, particularly in a dynamic situation,” he told reporters today.
“I know that situation you’re referring to, with the member of the media. We saw that, we’re very concerned about it, and we’re looking into that.”
The LAPD confirmed it had launched a “formal investigation” into the incident.
Matt Stanton – chief executive of Nine, the publisher of this website – said it was important to understand the circumstances around the incident.
“The video footage captured by our team on Sunday showing a projectile fired from a police officer’s weapon was shocking and raised concerns from around the world, with valid questions around what could in any way have justified the actions taken by the police officer,” he said.
“This is why a formal investigation is so important. It is important to find out what happened and why.
“I plan to write to the LAPD commissioner offering our cooperation with the investigation.”
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance issued a statement following Tomasi’s shooting, which it said appeared to be deliberate.
“Journalists reporting from the frontline of protests and wars fulfil the essential role of bearing witness, and should be accorded the same protections as other frontline workers,” the union said in a statement.
“No one deserves to be short or injured during the course of their work.”
BBC and other UK outlets reported that British news photographer Nick Stern had also been shot with a three-inch plastic bullet while covering the same protests on Sunday.
ABC North America correspondent Lauren Day has also suffered in the protests, going through the “extremely unpleasant” experience of being teargassed.
“In a sign of just how quickly things can escalate, after a long stand-off with protesters, all of a sudden we heard large bangs and the crowd started running,” she said today.
“I then felt the unmistakable burn of tear gas — first in my eyes, then in my nose, lips and throat.
“It really stings your entire face and makes it difficult to breathe, until the point you almost want to throw up.”
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The situation in America’s second-largest city has continued to deteriorate since protests started on Friday over news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids targeting suspected illegal immigrants in parts of Los Angeles.
Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops to respond, which Governor Gavin Newsom has said is a “serious breach of state sovereignty” and about “stroking a dangerous president’s ego”.
The Marines have also been ordered into the city.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against the president over the deployment, which he said “trampled” the state’s sovereignty.
Newsom has repeatedly affirmed that the state’s authorities had the situation under control.
The Associated Press reported that Trump has today authorised the deployment of 2000 additional National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
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