PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Violent pro-illegal immigrant riots in Los Angeles, California, targeted Waymo autonomous electric vehicles, setting several on fire over the weekend.
👥 Who’s Involved: Rioters, Waymo (a Google subsidiary), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), and California Highway Patrol.
📍 Where & When: Downtown Los Angeles, Sunday afternoon, particularly near Los Angeles Street between Arcadia and Alameda streets.
💬 Key Quote: “Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement warning the public to stay away from the burning vehicles.
⚠️ Impact: At least five Waymo vehicles were targeted, highlighting the dangers presented by electric vehicles’ batteries when compromised.
IN FULL:
Pro-illegal immigrant rioters in downtown Los Angeles turned their attention to Waymo autonomous vehicles on Sunday, vandalizing and setting several of the driverless taxis ablaze. The incidents occurred as violent demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escalated in the Civic Center area, with some far-left agitators spilling onto the 101 Freeway, forcing its closure for several hours.
Law enforcement officers from the California Highway Patrol worked to disperse the crowd, detaining multiple rioters. Meanwhile, a group of protesters specifically targeted Waymo vehicles parked on Los Angeles Street near Arcadia and Alameda streets. Witnesses reported seeing rioters slashing tires, smashing windows, and spray-painting anti-ICE messages on the cars.
The situation escalated further when three of the five vehicles were set on fire, sending thick black smoke into the air. Protesters reportedly used skateboards to break windows and makeshift flamethrowers to ignite the interiors of the vehicles. Lime electric scooters were also thrown into the flames, adding to the destruction.
The Los Angeles Police Department warned the public to avoid the area, stating: “Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby.”
Multiple Waymo vehicles set ablaze here in LA pic.twitter.com/p2iVDUbEIL
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) June 9, 2025
Waymo, a Google subsidiary, has been operating its self-driving taxi service in Los Angeles since November, following launches in San Francisco and Phoenix. The company confirmed it was in contact with law enforcement and expressed concern for public safety.
This is not the first time Waymo vehicles have been targeted. Previous incidents in San Francisco involved passengers reporting harassment and obstruction. Most of these have involved predators attempting to follow or force entry into an autonomous vehicle carrying a female passenger.
In at least one incident, a female passenger, being followed by a group of men in another car and unable to stop or divert her Waymo ride, called 911, only to be told by police they could not respond to a moving vehicle. Waymo claims such incidents are rare.
BREAKING 🚨: A second WayMo has just been lit on fire by protestors. No police present. This is a major escalation from just one hour ago. Thousands of protestors in the streets.
Los Angeles, CA pic.twitter.com/LC17SpXQfJ
— Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) June 9, 2025