Waymo Halts Downtown Los Angeles Service After Five Vehicles Destroyed In Immigration Protests

Waymo suspended its ride-hailing service in downtown Los Angeles after its vehicles were set on fire during protests against immigration raids in the area. The Alphabet-owned company removed vehicles from downtown Los Angeles with guidance from the Los Angeles Police Department and won’t be serving the area, according to the company.

Waymo doesn’t believe the protests are related to the company specifically, according to the company. At least five Waymo vehicles had been set on fire as of Sunday evening, according to local news station KTLA.

The destruction occurred on Los Angeles Street as protests against federal anti-immigration efforts escalated with the arrival of California’s National Guard near the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8The self-driving car service is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc. E-scooters operated by Lime were also set on fire, according to TechCrunch.

Lime responded to the incidents affecting their vehicles with a safety warning. “For the safety of all involved, we implore everyone to refrain from using our vehicles for anything other than their intended purpose,” Lime said in a statement. The company is monitoring the situation and will “respond accordingly to keep our teams, vehicles and the broader LA community safe.”

President Donald Trump sent National Guard troops to the city on Sunday to respond to the protests. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell has said that demonstrations on Sunday were largely peaceful, but crowds have clashed with law enforcement. Graffiti on storefronts and vandalism has also spread to other parts of the city.

Waymo is one of several companies working to bring self-driving cars to U.S. roads.