Australia's prime minister responded to footage of an Australian journalist beingshot with a nonlethal bulletwhile she was covering the Los Angelesimmigration raid protestsover the weekend, calling it "horrific" in an interview Tuesday, June 10. Prime Minister Anthony Albanesesaid the shooting of journalist Lauren Tomasi was unacceptable, telling reporters at theNational Press Club in CanberraTuesday that she was clearly identified as a member of the press, but declined to say whether he would speak personally toPresident Donald Trumpabout the issue. "I spoke with Lauren this morning and she's going ok. She's pretty resilient, I've got to say, but that footage was horrific," Albanese said in response to a reporter's question. "We have already raised these issues with the U.S. administration," he said. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important." LA protests live updates:Newsom calls Trump's Marine deployment a 'blatant abuse of power' When asked if he will raise the issue with the U.S. president individually, Albanese said discussions he has with Trump are between them, telling reporters, "I'll leave the discussions with the president till they occur rather than foreshadow them." Previously:Australian journalist shot with nonlethal bullet while reporting on LA protests Tomasi, a U.S. national correspondent for Australia's 9News, was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet while reporting on theimmigration raidsand ensuing protests in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, the network reported. Footage of the incident recorded by 9News shows Tomasi finishing a report in front of the camera, then quickly pans to a law enforcement officer pivoting and appearing to aim in the direction of the camera crew before shooting, followed by Tomasi yelling out in pain. The round struck the back of Tomasi's left leg, according to9News. "Thanks for all your messages - I'm a bit sore, but I'm okay,"Tomasi said on XMonday, June 9. "Important we keep on telling the stories that need to be told." Tomasi is one ofseveral U.S. and foreign journalists to have been injuredwhile covering the protests in Los Angeles, which began Friday, June 6 in response to ICE carrying out a directive fromPresident Trumpto find immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status. Tensions in the city have only escalated since, as officials brace for a fifth day of protests on Tuesday, June 10, amid atense standoff between California leaders and the Trump administrationover the president's deployment of Marines and the National Guard. LA protests:Multiple journalists injured by police nonlethal rounds The Los Angeles Press Club has documented more than 20incidentsof obstruction and attacks against members of the media since protests began, and a leading press freedom non-profit, The Committee to Protect Journalists, released astatementMonday, June 9 expressing concern. "Any attempt to discourage or silence media coverage by intimidating or injuring journalists should not be tolerated," said the organization's U.S., Canada, and Caribbean Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen. "It is incumbent upon authorities to respect the media's role of documenting issues of public interest." Officers shot Ryanne Mena, a crime reporter with the LA Daily News, and freelance reporter Sean Beckner-Carmitchel withpepper ballsand tear-gassed them onFriday and Saturdaywhile they reported, the committee said in the statement. They also pointed to British freelance photojournalist Nick Stern, who they say hademergency surgeryafter a three-inch plastic bullet struck his leg on Sunday. The committee said a Los Angeles Police Department representative told them it will investigate the cases. Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Australia PM says nonlethal shooting of reporter in LA was 'horrific'
