Reporter who was shot by police while filming during LA riots speaks out

Australian news reporter Lauren Tomasi has revealed that she is 'okay' after being shot with a rubber bullet while covering the unfolding riots across Los Angeles.

As unrest within America's second-largest city reaches the end of its third day, a news crew from Australia's 9News were covering the situation on the ground when their reporter, Tomasi, was struck in the leg by a rubber bullet.

The clip, which can be viewed below, shows Tomasi explaining how the situation in the city was 'rapidly deteriorating' while gunfire and shouting can be heard in the background.

She was then struck in the leg by a rubber bullet after one of the gunmen appeared to aim at her, with the direct aftermath being caught on camera.

Watch the moment below:

Providing an update to her network, 9News, Tomasi said that she and her crew were okay and that 'this is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents'.

Responding to concerns from 9News anchor Peter Overton, Tomasi - who is the outlet's US Correspondent - said: "I am okay. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe."

She then went on to explain that the earlier incident was just 'one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents'.

The moment Lauren was hit (9News)

"It was been a really volatile day on the streets of Los Angeles," she added, going on to explain there was no heavy police presence in the downtown LA area.

The outlet previously released a statement on the situation, which read: "Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events.

"This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information."

Tomasi wasn't the only reporter to find themselves caught up in the escalating violence either, with British photographer Nick Stern left needing surgery after being struck in the leg by a rubber bullet.

Speaking about the incident in an interview with Metro, the 60-year-old explained that he was photographing two women waving flags when he suddenly felt 'this shocking pain in my leg'.

"I reached down with my hand and could feel something solid in the back of my leg. I hobbled from the road, not knowing whether I was going to get hit again," he said.

Stern was later helped to the hospital, where he received surgery to dislodge the projectile.

• Why there are huge riots in LA as reporter and British photographer shot by police
• Good Morning Britain presenter shot during live report from LA protests shows his injuries
• Where ‘perfect neighbour’ who shot and killed mum in chilling body cam footage is now
• Woman who lived in Home Alone house during filming reveals what it was like