Waymo pulls self-driving cars out of downtown LA after 5 torched by rioters

Autonomous taxi service Waymo has suspended its service in parts of LA following five of the company’s vehicles being set ablaze over the weekend during violent anti-ICE riots that rocked the city.

Per the Washington Post, the company said that it had removed its vehicles from downtown Los Angeles, and would not be serving that area "out of an abundance of caution."

Footage from the streets of LA showed rioters attacking the self-driving vehicles in the streets, with one being seen on the roof of the car, hitting it with a skateboard. Another car was seen on fire as rioters posed in front of it for photos.

The Los Angeles Police Department warned people to stay away from a portion of Los Angeles Street on Sunday, writing, "Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby. Please avoid the area."

Waymo, owned by Google parent company Alphabet, said that it has "no reason to believe" it was specifically targeted in the attacks.

Over 50 people were arrested over the weekend after clashing with law enforcement. LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that law enforcement officers were targeted with weapons capable of causing fatal injuries, including chunks of concrete and unidentified liquids, as well as explosive devices. "We are overwhelmed — not just by the number of people involved but the level of violence we’re seeing," he said.

In response to the violence, President Donald Trump called in 2,000 National Guard members to the city to help quell the violence, a move that was criticized by Democrat lawmakers. California Governor Gavin Newsom has said that the state would launch a lawsuit against Trump for the move.