Violence and looting has erupted after the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team beat the New York Yankees to clinch the 2024 World Series title.
Two of the biggest sporting franchises on the planet locked horns at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, US time, as the Dodgers sealed victory in game five of the best-of-seven series to take the bragging rights back to the west coast.
The result means the Dodgers have become Major Baseball League (MLB) champions for the second time in five years – but celebrations have been marred by violent scenes and criminal activity – including a bus being set on fire in LA.
Los Angeles’ Police Department (LAPD) has said they received reports of ‘looting at several stores in the area of 8th and Broadway’ at around 10.45pm local time.
The LAPD ordered people to ‘leave the area immediately’ on social media and reposted various videos of looting on X, including at a Nike store, where a door had been removed so thieves could access it and raid their various items.
A bus was set on fire as part of the mayhem while the LAPD later said that ‘various projectiles’ – including rocks and bottles – were being launched at their officers.
‘Central Division reports multiple businesses looted and property vandalized during violent celebrations in the #dtla [Downtown LA] area,’ @LAPDCentral posted on X.
‘Central Division is aware of the looting that occurred earlier in the celebrations. Arrests have been made. Several dispersal orders have been given. Several businesses have been looted. It was requested to celebrate responsibly.’
‘Reports of a hostile crowd that has surrounded an MTA bus and is attempting to set it on fire in the area of Sunset and Echo Park,’ @LAPDHQ posted. ‘LAPD officers are responding. Stay away from the area.
‘Various projectiles are being thrown at LAPD Officers in the area of Olympic [and] Grand. 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 [and] follow officers’ orders.’
LA resident Taylor Rosa, 27, an eyewitness to the carnage, told NBC News: ‘[It was] absolute chaos.
‘[People] got out of control and started looting and jumping on top of a bus.’