Australia raises concern with US over journalist shooting in Los Angeles: Premier

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Australian Prime Minister Tuesday said his country has raised concerns with the US about the safety of an Australian journalist who was shot by a rubber bullet in Los Angeles.

"It is not unreasonable to think that she would not have been targeted with a rubber bullet. It is not unreasonable to think that she could go about her coverage, clearly, as people can see in the footage, clearly identified as media, " Albanese told reporters at the National Press Club.

"And so we have already raised these issues with the US administration. We don't find it acceptable that it occurred," he added.

Albanese further said the footage, which showed a police officer appearing to point his weapon at Tomasi before firing the projectile, made it clear she had been targeted despite identifying as media.

Lauren Tomasi, a Channel Nine reporter, was shot with a rubber bullet while covering chaotic protests in Los Angeles on Monday.

Albanese also said he had spoken to Tomasi, who is "pretty resilient," and she is "going ok."

"But that footage was horrific. That was the footage of an Australian journalist doing what journalists do at their very best, at their very best, which is to go into an environment that's not comfortable," Albanese went on to say.

Nine, in a statement, said Tomasi 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," the channel said.

* Writing by Aamir Latif