LA descends right into a conflict zone as livid protesters brandishing Mexican and American flags whereas sporting fuel masks ATTACK police

Chaotic scenes unfolded on Friday in Los Angeles as protesters carrying Mexican and American flags clashed with police.   

Protesters stormed the outside of a federal prison in downtown Los Angeles. Demonstrators came face-to-face with police officers, who protected themselves behind shields before unleashing pepper balls and tear gas. 

One dramatic image depicted a protester striking a police officer’s shield with a skateboard.

Another revealed the officers firing non-lethal rounds at protesters in an effort to disperse.  

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a warning just before 9 pm, ordering all protesters near Union Station to disperse within 10 minutes.

Officers then infiltrated the scene and said they were met with bottles and rocks hurled at them, according to the LAPD’s social media account. 

LAPD Central Division announced a ‘tactical alert’ after federal authorities were hit with debris, bottles, and other objects.

As the night continued, the LAPD arrested ‘violent agitators’ who were allegedly ‘fighting with officers,’ one of whom was accused of ‘using a sling shot to shoot hard metal objects at officers who were standing on the line.

Protesters took to the streets on Friday in Los Angeles to demand an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Pictured above are demonstrators marching outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles

Mayor Karen Bass, pictured above at a press conference on Friday, urged demonstrators to remain peaceful and not to provoke retaliation from the Trump administration 

Mayor Karen Bass later confirmed that five people were arrested during the dramatic confrontation. The Daily Mail has reached out to the LAPD for an update on the arrests. 

Bass urged protesters in the city to remain peaceful during a press conference on Friday, adding that violence was ‘exactly what I believe this administration wants to see happen.’  

‘I think the protests are extremely important, but it is equally important for these protests to be peaceful, for vandalism not to take place,’ she said. 

‘That does not impact the administration in any kind of way that is going to bring about any type of change.’