This is the terrifying moment a television crew was chased through London after being attacked live on air at the Black Lives Matter protest.
Australian news correspondent Ben Avery and his cameraman Cade Thompson were filming on Whitehall when sections of the mostly peaceful demonstration turned ugly.
They were mobbed by frenzied youths jostling the crew and disrupting the broadcast while chanting ‘f*** the media!’.
Avery and his team backed off, but the protesters stalked them down the street, ripped the microphone from his hand and hounded them to Parliament Square.
The largely peaceful rally, inspired by the killing of American George Floyd, had gathered in Hyde Park before marching on Westminster, where some of the crowd turned violent, leading to 13 arrests.
Clashes with police continued into the night yesterday, including outside Downing Street where supposed protesters tore down barriers.
In the face of a fiery crowd, some constables were pictured kneeling on the floor – a symbol associated with the Black Lives Matter movement since NFL star Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the US national anthem.
An Australian TV crew was mobbed by frenzied youths jostling the crew and disrupting the broadcast while chanting ‘f*** the media!’ while filming in Westminster, London
Ben Avery (pictured) and his team backed off, but the protesters stalked them down the street, ripped the microphone from his hand and hounded them to Parliament Square
The largely peaceful Black Lives Matter rally had gathered in Hyde Park before marching on Westminster, where some of the crowd turned violent, leading to 13 arrests
Police officers outside Downing Street take a knee in front of thousands of Black Lives Matters protesters demonstrating against the killing of George Floyd
The Nine News correspondent revealed later he was nursing an injury after taking a flying bottle to the face.
And he described how his security guard was ‘taking on about 15 people’ as they ‘bolted’ to safety.
He said: ‘We had bottles flying around, at one stage one of the bottles hit me in the face as I was running off. It was pretty scary really.’
Avery tweeted last night: ‘Thanks to everyone for your concern after this. Had been a peaceful protest until things took a turn late.
‘The microphone was pulled from my hand and we were chased down the street by a large group.
‘Big thanks to rock solid cameraman Cade Thompson, our security guard and police.’
Despite attempts to swipe his camera, Thompson managed to send out a live broadcast throughout the frightening episode.
He described how his security guard was ‘taking on about 15 people’ as they ‘bolted’ to safety
News correspondent Ben Avery and his cameraman Cade Thompson were filming on Whitehall when sections of the mostly peaceful demonstration turned ugly
Protestors throw barriers towards the gates of Downing Street during an anti-racism demonstration in London
The Nine News clip footage shows Avery reporting on Whitehall, who immediately tells his television anchor back in the studio that ‘there have been some clashes with us’.
He is circled by a group of supposed protesters who try to move in front of the camera while shouting.
Suddenly, the camera spins round as if knocked and one of the mob is seen sprinting through an underpass.
As he backs off, Avery tries to continue the broadcast and says: ‘We’ve been trying to walk away from the danger here, but it’s been following us.’
But the correspondent is cut off as somebody grabs his microphone and tears off, while the security guard is seen trying to hold off the whipped-up crowd.
Some of the mob are heard whooping as the female voice of the television anchor says ‘this just shows how dangerous it is for our reporters’.
As police swoop in to intervene, Avery and his cameraman run down the street, past Westminster Tube station and across to the Palace of Westminster.
A masked cyclist appears to take a swipe at Thompson’s camera, but misses.
The clip finishes with both Avery and Thompson reunited outside the Houses of Parliament where they are shielded by bolstered police forces.
The Nine News correspondent revealed an hour later he was nursing an injury after taking a flying bottle to the face
As he backs off, Avery tries to continue the broadcast and says: ‘We’ve been trying to walk away from the danger here, but it’s been following us’
As police swoop in to intervene, Avery and his cameraman run down the street, past Westminster Tube station and across to the Palace of Westminster
Protesters stand on the statue of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during a demonstration in Parliament Square in London
Describing the saga on Nine News later, Avery said: ‘It felt like there was a police officer for every single protester there at that stage but it didn’t make much difference.
‘They were just so angry and they were so after us at that stage that even one of police said to me there is not much they could do.’
It came just hours after another Australian reporter was attacked while covering the George Floyd protests by a man who whispered ‘Allahu Akbar’ in her ear.
Sophie Walsh, a Europe correspondent for Channel Nine, was live on air from London when she was approached by the screwdriver-wielding man, who made stabbing motions at her stomach after grabbing her from behind.
Her cameraman sprang into action and forced the man off Ms Walsh while calling the police.
The 34-year-old said she couldn’t shake the realisation the attack happened on the three-year anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack, which left eight people stabbed to death and another 48 injured.