An Australian journalist has been ambushed by protesters who gathered in London in support of George Floyd.
Ben Avery, a Europe correspondent for Channel Nine, had crossed live to the Today show from London when he was approached by several rioters, including one who stole his microphone.
There is a heavy police presence in British capital as demonstrations gain momentum throughout the city.
The protests follow more than a week of out-of-control riots throughout the United States following the death of 46-year-old George Floyd while in the custody of four Minneapolis police officers.
Police holding back protesters in Parliament Square in London on June 3 following nine days of riots in the US
White cop Derek Chauvin was filmed with his knee pressed against Mr Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, even after he lost consciousness.
He has been charged with second degree murder, while the three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder.
Several Australian journalists covering protests in Floyd’s honour have been caught up in the rising tensions since his death.
Footage shows the moment Mr Avery was ushered through a tunnel to ‘escape danger’, only to be set upon by protesters.
Mr Avery later told the Today show he was alright following the incident.
‘We’d been trying to walk away from the danger here, but it’s been following us,’ he said.
Ben Avery, a UK correspondent for Channel Nine, had crossed live to the Today show when he was approached by several rioters, including one who snatched his microphone
The crew were approached from behind by a man who snatched the microphone from Mr Avery’s hand and ran from the scene
Black Lives Matter messages were painted on walls throughout London
Footage of the moments leading up to the attack show groups of protesters approaching Avery and his cameraman as they back away into a nearby tunnel.
While their attention was on the group in front of them, they were approached from behind by another man who snatched the microphone from Mr Avery’s hand and ran from the scene.
The journalist and cameraman then ran from the area, ending the live broadcast.
Later in the segment, the news desk confirmed they had been in touch with Mr Avery and he was safe.
‘Police have got to that area now to control the crowd,’ host Karl Stefanovic said.
Footage of the moments leading up to the attack show groups of protesters approaching Avery and his cameraman as they back away into a tunnel
There is currently a heavy police presence in the streets of London as demonstrations gain momentum throughout the city. Mr Avery took this photo prior to the incident
Ben Avery is a Europe correspondent with Nine News, and has been with the network since 2010
‘Certainly those tensions have started to lift in the last half hour… It’s got a little bit dangerous for people.’
The incident comes just hours after fellow European correspondent Sophie Walsh was assaulted by a man saying: ‘Allahu Akbar’ during a cross to the Adelaide studio.
The 34-year-old was visibly shaken as she told her colleagues she was attacked by a man during the riots.
‘Sorry, I just… I just had someone come up and try and… yeah. A man just came up and grabbed me. It’s okay… A man just came up and grabbed me though,’ she said.
Her cameraman, Jason Conduit, chased the man down while ‘armed with a light stand’.
Pictured: A man kicks out a store front window during a protest on Thursday in St. Paul, Minnesota
Washington DC: Protesters holding banners march from Capitol Hill toward the White House during a rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd on Saturday
On Thursday morning, Ms Walsh told Today she thought she could have died.
‘Definitely pretty rattled still,’ she said. ‘I don’t think anyone knows the sound of their true scream until they’re in a situation like that where they feel like it’s a life or death scenario.
‘He had a hand in his pocket. I thought: does he have a knife and will he start stabbing us?’
Ms Walsh said she feared he was wearing a suicide vest and couldn’t shake the realisation that it was the third anniversary of the terror attacks on London Bridge.
The man was eventually arrested without further incident.
Walsh said her cameraman Jason Conduit chased the man down while ‘armed with a light stand’ before police apprehended him