LA riots LIVE: Trump puts US Marines on standby to take on anti-deportation protesters

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has said it is probing reports from business owners of looting.

The LAPD Central Division wrote on X: "Business owners are reporting stores are being looted in the area of 6th St and Broadway.

"Officers are en route to the location to investigate."

The arrival of the National Guard came after two days of protests that began Friday in downtown LA before spreading on Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and neighboring Compton.

Federal agents arrested immigrants in LA’s fashion district, in a Home Depot parking lot and at several other locations on Friday.

The next day, they were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office near another Home Depot in Paramount, which drew out protesters who suspected another raid.

Federal authorities later said there was no enforcement activity at that Home Depot.

Demonstrators attempted to block Border Patrol vehicles by hurling rocks and chunks of cement.

In response, agents in riot gear unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls.

After two days of protests, Donald Trump deployed the National Guard against the wishes of local police, further inflaming tensions in the city.

Dozens of arrests have been made over the past few days, and police have now expanded their unlawful assembly declaration to include the whole of downtown LA, NBC News reports.

The declaration means anyone in the area could be subject to arrest.

Photos show throngs of demonstrators on the street at police clash with protesters in LA.

Tensions have been inflamed over the decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops. Around 300 are in the city at present.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged the Trump adminstration to rescind the order, calling it "unlawful".

Donald Trump has called for soldiers to be deployed to the protests continuing in LA amid fury over the adminstration's deportation raids.

Hundreds of National Guard soldiers have been deployed to face down the protestors against the wishes of local police.

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to send in the Marines, though doing so would require invoking the Insurrection Act which hasn't happened since the large-scale demonstrations that erupted following the aquittal of police officers who beat Rodney King.

In a post on his Truth Social plaform this morning, Trump said: "Jim McDonnell, the highly respected LAPD Chief, just stated that the protesters are getting very much more aggressive, and that he would “have to reassess the situation,” as it pertains to bringing in the troops.

"He should, RIGHT NOW!!! Don’t let these thugs get away with this".

In another shortly after he wrote: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!"

California Governor Gavin Newsom has blasted Donald Trump's decision to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops which has brought thousands of protestors to the streets in LA.

In a post on X, called on the President to "stand down" while warning "bad actors" among the protestors they will be arrested.

"Donald Trump has manufactured a crisis and is inflaming conditions," he wrote.

"If he can’t solve it, we will.

"To the bad actors — Violent acts will not be tolerated.

"You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You are doing more than just damage to buildings and property. You are damaging the very foundation of our republic.

"Democracy is in the balance. Donald Trump is using you as an excuse to militarize a city and circumvent our democracy.

"To the many, many peaceful protesters —we want to keep you safe. We want you to exercise your fundamental rights.

"And to our law enforcement on the streets— that are enforcing the laws respectfully and responsibly—we want to keep you safe as well.

"But Donald Trump needs to pull back. He needs to stand down."

Protests on Sunday were the third day of demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region, as the arrival of around 300 federal troops spurred anger and fear among some residents. The demonstrations were centered in several blocks of downtown.

Footage posted on X shows how protestors picked up tear gas cannisters from the floor and threw them back at police lines.

A powerful bird's eye image of the clashes between protestors and police show how LA is being torn apart by the conflict. Another image shows a lone female protestor being arrested.

The Pentagon has confirmed that thousands of troops have been placed under federal control to bolster security operations in the greater Los Angeles area.

In a statement released on Sunday, U.S. Northern Command said that, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, “approximately 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers have been placed under federal command and control in a Title 10 status to support the protection of federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.”

The military said around 300 members of the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are already on the ground, currently deployed in Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton, California.

In a further show of readiness, the statement added that about 500 Marines are “in a prepared to deploy status” should they be called upon to defend federal facilities and personnel.

The dramatic deployment comes amid growing unrest and ongoing protests across the city.

A video posted by X user James Queally appears two show two motorcyclists revving the engines of their machines, with commentors on the posts alleging that the pair were riding towards the police lines before crashing and being arrested by police.

Footage from Fox News shows how the police are using "non-lethal" munitions against protestors - as promised.

Fox reporter Matthew Seedorff has posted on his X account that he ahs been informed by California U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli that video evidence will be used to prosecute protestors.

OSINT enthusiast TheIntelFrog has stated via their X account that a Blackhawk military helicopter has been detected over the protests in LA, along with news aircraft.

The latest images from the protests in LA show the conflict escalating between police and protestors.

Independent journalist Aldo has posted via his X account alongside an image of LA protestors displaying the Soviet flag outside the Wilshire Federal Building, Wilshire Blvd: "Large protestor presence outside the LA federal building. The mood is tense as day 2 of the protests continue. Police are not engaging at the moment."

The official Rapid Response account of the Trump 47 White House Rapid Response 47 has issued a video quoting Trump as saying in response to protestors: "They spit, we hit."

The Los Angeles Police Department have announced, via their X account, that the use of "less lethal munitions" has been authorised against protestors:

"The use of less lethal munitions has been authorized by the Incident Commander. Persons throwing items at officers will be detained and arrested. An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared by the Incident Commander."

Footage from a TikTok livestream has captured a dramatic and chaotic moment during tonight’s protests in Los Angeles.

In the video, posted on the X account The Kind Joe, a police squad car is seen surrounded by protesters, who reportedly smash the vehicle’s windows while officers remain inside. Shouts and chants from the crowd can also be clearly heard as tensions escalate.

Police were later seen withdrawing from the scene amid the unrest, as the situation on the ground continues to remain highly volatile.

Donald Trump has vowed to unleash the full force of his administration to bring what he called the “liberation” of Los Angeles, following days of violent clashes between protesters and federal agents over deportations.

Taking to his Truth Social platform, the President delivered a fiery statement, describing the city as “invaded and occupied” by illegal migrants and criminals.

“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” he wrote.

“Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.

“I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots.

“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

His remarks come just hours after hundreds of National Guard troops were deployed to hotspots around the city, where demonstrators have attempted to block deportation operations.