Los Angeles was plunged into chaos on Wednesday night as rowdy baseball fans set a bus ablaze, clashed with police, and looters wreaked havoc following the Dodgers' World Series triumph. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) released video footage showing a throng of looters entering and exiting a barricaded Nike store, approximately four miles from Dodger Stadium, around 11 p.m. The LAPD confirmed they were "aware of the looting" and had made arrests, though the number of suspects taken into custody was not disclosed. The department also reported that "several businesses" were looted and multiple properties were "vandalized" during the citywide "violent celebrations."
Aerial footage from ABC 7 Los Angeles depicted dozens of looters calmly entering and exiting a Nike store with boxes of goods, seemingly without police intervention. Meanwhile, other parts of downtown Los Angeles descended into mayhem. The LAPD stated that a "hostile crowd"—estimated at between 200 and 300 people—set an MTA bus on fire about a mile from Dodger Stadium around 12:35 a.m. local time. Footage shared on Citizen showed a large crowd, mostly dressed in Dodgers jerseys and apparel, surrounding and sitting atop the graffiti-covered bus.
Members of the crowd were seen entering the bus, while others held up Dodgers flags and took photos. Emergency responders arrived at approximately 12:45 a.m. local time, monitored the bus fire, and safeguarded nearby structures from potential spread. A video posted by @FilmThePoliceLA showed fireworks being set off inside the bus as the crowd cheered. Another video depicted the bus engulfed in flames, spewing thick black smoke, while police in riot gear established a perimeter to keep the crowd at bay. The crowd chanted, "Let’s go, Dodgers!" over the sounds of helicopters and police sirens. The bus then appeared to explode, sending flames into the air.
Firefighters were seen extinguishing the charred remains of the bus, with only the frame of the transport vehicle remaining intact. The Los Angeles Fire Department stated it was "in a normal operating mode, handling routine emergencies citywide" and directed the public to the LAPD for information regarding all the "unlawful gatherings." The LAPD also reported that officers attempting to disperse the unruly crowd were being pelted with rocks, bottles, and fireworks from a hostile group near the looting site. "Extra resources are responding to that area to assist. If you are on the street, at or adjacent to that intersection, leave the area immediately & follow officers’ orders," the police advised. "If you are in the area, please use caution."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned citizens that "violence will not be tolerated" as the city celebrates the Dodgers' victory over the Yankees during Game 5 in New York, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles. "LAPD is currently on tactical alert and has activated a strategic plan to protect communities and businesses, which includes proactive deployment and a coordinated strategy with regional partners to ensure that all Angelenos are able to celebrate safely," she said. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees 7-6 at Yankee Stadium and are scheduled to celebrate their victory on Friday morning with a ticketed event at Dodger Stadium and a parade in downtown Los Angeles.
Source link: https://nypost.com
