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"UPDATED 1:33 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 14\nHeavily-armed SWAT officers fired on protesters after arresting and reportedly assaulting two national reporters in Ferguson, Missouri, Wednesday night. \nBased on tweeted images and live-streamed video from the scene, combat-style SWAT teams arrived in full riot gear, training sniper rifles on the crowd, and attempted to disperse what started as a peaceful protest in a community where tensions are already running high. By the time night fell, like a scene out of a war-torn country, the streets of Ferguson were filled with the sights and sounds of flash grenades, tear gas, car alarms and rubber bullets.\nSee also: Ferguson or Iraq? Photos Unmask the Militarization of America's Police\nRyan J. Reilly, The Huffington Post's justice reporter, and Wesley Lowery, a Washington Post reporter, were covering and live-tweeting the scene in Ferguson on Wednesday, following the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown on Saturday, before they were arrested and detained. That quickly brought national attention to local police officers' actions, as the situation in Ferguson deteriorated.  \n\n\nSWAT overlooks protestors in #Ferguson. They've all moved to sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/peY5cOVBZl\n\u2014 Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014\n\nReilly and Lowery said they were working in a McDonald's when officers entered and ordered everyone to leave. Reilly told MSNBC that the officers said they were \"shutting down\" the restaurant, and when Reilly didn't pack fast enough, he was arrested and detained for what seemed to be about an hour. \n\nSWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo. pic.twitter.com/FOIsMnBwHy\n\u2014 Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014\n\nAlthough he said he was not resisting arrest, Lowery told the Washington Post that he was slammed against a soda machine and handcuffed. \u201CThat made me, frankly, fear for my life,\u201D Lowery said, though he added that he recognized his advantage as a member of the media. \n\u201CI knew I was going to be fine,\u201D he said. \u201CBut the thing is, so many people here in Ferguson don\u2019t have as many Twitter followers as I have and don\u2019t have Jeff Bezos or whoever to call and bail them out of jail.\u201D\nSee also: FAA Bans All Non-Emergency Aircraft Over Ferguson\nWednesday's protests began in daylight hours, in accordance with police directives. Based on live streams that showed them in real-time, the protests were largely calm, though they quickly escalated as night fell. \n\nA member of the St. Louis County Police Department points his weapon in the direction of a group of protesters in Ferguson, Mo., on Wednesday, Aug. 13.Image: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press\nA device deployed by police goes off in the street as police and protesters clash Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Image: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press\nA man picks up a flaming bottle and prepares to throw it as a line of police advance in the distance Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. Image: Jeff Roberson/Associated PressDemonstrators' chants of \"No peace, no justice\" and \"Police: We are all Michael Brown\" turned into \"F*ck the police,\" as authorities began firing tear gas, rubber bullets and flash grenades into the crowd. That was apparently in response to a thrown bottle or other projectiles. A police spokesperson told The New York Times' Julie Bosman that molotov cocktails were also thrown. \n\"You are not peacefully assembling,\" officers announced, imploring protesters to return to their homes or be arrested.\n\nSTL County Police Chief Belmar: \"We've done everything we can to demonstrate a remarkable amount of restraint.\" pic.twitter.com/97AcVPPZGK\n\u2014 Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 14, 2014\n\n\nHappening now in #Ferguson https://t.co/QON3plrtV3\n\u2014 Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014\n\nSt. Louis County Police told Matt Sczesny of local news station KMOV that at least 10 arrests were made in Ferguson. The St. Louis County Police also confirmed to local news station KSDK early Thursday morning that the department's email has been down for the past three hours, and that it is investigating a \"potential hack.\" \nMissouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced on Wednesday night via Twitter that he would be canceling a scheduled appearance at the Missouri State Fair to visit North St. Louis County, where Ferguson is located.\n\nCanceling all appearances at the @MoStateFair to visit North #STL County tomorrow. Statement to follow.\n\u2014 Governor Jay Nixon (@GovJayNixon) August 14, 2014\n\nAround 1 A.M. ET, Gov. Nixon released a statement on the unrest that said, in part: \"The worsening situation in Ferguson is deeply troubling, and does not represent who we are as Missourians or as Americans. While we all respect the solemn responsibility of our law enforcement officers to protect the public, we must also safeguard the rights of Missourians to peaceably assemble and the rights of the press to report on matters of public concern.\"\nNixon called on law enforcement to seek peace and allow journalists to continue to report.\n\"Once again, I ask that members of the community demonstrate patience and calm while the investigation continues, and I urge law enforcement agencies to keep the peace and respect the rights of residents and the press during this difficult time,\" the statement continued.\nThe Ferguson Police Department has been criticized for what has been seen as militant behavior, as it tries to keep the peace. Police had already used tear gas and rubber bullets before Wednesday on the outraged, grieving community in the days since Brown was killed. The department has also refused to release the name of the officer involved, citing security concerns, and full details of the event, due to the ongoing investigation, angering those affected. \nThere has been crime and acts of violence in the days following the shooting, which caused the police department to release an official statement urging residents to assemble \"only during daylight hours in an organized and respectful manner.\"\n\nHappening now in #Ferguson https://t.co/kUGwMiY8ia\n\u2014 Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 14, 2014\n\nThe days following Brown's shooting have raised questions around the militarization of police in the U.S., thanks to a Pentagon program that has transferred military equipment \u2014 including machine guns and armored vehicles \u2014 to local police departments. That was on full display in Ferguson on Wednesday night.\n\n#Ferguson crowd threw rocks, bottles, Molotov cocktails, saw a gun, right before this stepped off pic.twitter.com/qNngeVLtVL\n\u2014 David Carson (@PDPJ) August 14, 2014\n\nRace has played a large part in the events surrounding the shooting, and tension has simmered because of it. According to ABC News, the Ferguson Police Department employs three black officers and 47 white, while the city itself is 68% black. Brown, who was black and 18 at the time of the shooting, was reportedly shot multiple times, with his hands in the air, though police have said there was an altercation prior to the shooting.  \nThe U.S. Department of Justice has said it will launch a full investigation into Brown's death.\n \nHave something to add to this story? 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