American Independence Day celebrations turned into chaos across Southern California, after large crowds invaded fireworks displays, and the area witnessed looting of stores, fires, and clashes that required police intervention.
The city of Newport Beach recorded the worst riots during the Fourth of July celebrations, after revelers flocked to Orange County, causing traffic jams and escalating unrest near the pier.
The authorities closed all stores extending from Newport Pier to the Pacific Coast Highway, while police forces were deployed to re-impose order.
Hundreds of people surrounded the police officers, throwing bottles and other projectiles at them, before the crowds turned into clashes among themselves. The police also advanced on horseback to disperse those gathered, allowing more arrests to be made.
Video clips showed the effects of a looting attack that targeted a grocery store in Newport Beach, where goods were scattered in the parking lot, while groups of people remained outside the store.
In other areas of Southern California, several fires broke out, while a fireworks display ended with a number of people being injured.
A number of people were injured in the city of Chino after fireworks exploded at a very low altitude, while they were watching celebrations in a street, while fire brigades responded to several fires in the city of Los Angeles.
More than 60 firefighters participated in putting out a fire that broke out inside a commercial building in the Harbor Gateway neighborhood, and another fire broke out in the Mission Hills area, where several cypress trees caught fire inside a residential neighborhood.
The fire threatened neighboring homes and spread to two vehicles, before firefighters were able to control it and prevent it from reaching the homes, without any injuries recorded.
The authorities are still investigating the causes of the two fires, although it is not ruled out that fireworks were behind their outbreak.
