Waymo driverless car vandalized and scorched by mob in San Francisco

A Waymo driverless car was attacked by people in San Francisco’s Chinatown during Lunar New Year celebrations Saturday.

The empty car was stopped in traffic in Chinatown when the group decided to damage it.

The San Francisco Fire Department said on X that the taxi was surrounded, then painted with graffiti before its windows were smashed and a firework was tossed inside, setting the car on fire.

Firefighters arrived at 9 p.m. to douse the blaze, fire officials told the San Francisco Chronicle.

“The vehicle was not transporting any riders and no injuries have been reported. We are working closely with local safety officials to respond to the situation,” Waymo told local station KGO-TV. Waymo is owned by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed condemned the incident.

“It was a dangerous and destructive act of vandalism. Chinatown is one of the densest neighborhoods in San Francisco, and any fire could explode and spread among tightly packed buildings to endanger lives, homes and businesses,” she said in a statement Monday.