In the LA protests, Waymo cars that were not armed with weapons have been vandalised. They have also been set alight.

During recent protests in Los Angeles several Waymo autonomous vehicles were vandalised. One was completely destroyed by fire. These incidents took place over the weekend, in downtown LA, during protests against federal immigration raids.

The driverless Jaguar I-PACE cars, which are becoming more common on the streets in Los Angeles, were in the wrong place and at the wrong moment. Social media footage shows a Waymo vehicle engulfed by flames and sending a thick black plume into the air. Other vehicles in the fleet were also damaged. Their windows were smashed, and they had graffiti on them.

The attacks on robotic vehicles that were unoccupied at the moment represent a new, and worrying, development in public protests. The protests were mostly focused on immigration policy, but the futuristic, empty cars seemed to become a symbol that some people used to express their frustration.

Although Waymo uses remote operators to help passengers navigate difficult situations, it appears they were unable move these vehicles to a safer location. Official Response

Although Waymo has not yet released a statement regarding this latest incident, Los Angeles County sheriff Robert Luna addressed the wider unrest. In a press release, he said