MINNEAPOLIS: The Minneapolis police officer accused of killing an unarmed African American man was arrested and charged with murder on Friday (May 29) as authorities sought to restore peace after three nights of violent protests left parts of the city in flames.
Derek Chauvin is one of four officers fired after an explosive video emerged showing him kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed George Floyd for at least five minutes on Monday.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"This case is now ready, and we have charged it," said county prosecutor Mike Freeman amid outrage over the latest death of an African American at the hands of the police.
Freeman said the three other officers were under investigation, and that he anticipated charges.
The announcement came hours after hundreds of troops were deployed to the streets of Minneapolis and St Paul to stem what would be a fourth night of violent protests.
People react as a car burns at the parking lot of a Target store during protests after a white police officer was caught on a bystander's video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, May 28, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Advertisement
Advertisement
Scores of buildings have been burned and looted across the so-called Twin Cities, including a police station associated with the four officers.
As President Donald Trump labelled the protesters "thugs" and threatened a harsh crackdown, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz warned that he was considering a curfew.
"This is volatile. This has been building for decades," he said of tensions between police and African Americans.
"The first task at hand is, get civil control back, and get justice moving quickly and fairly."
Barack Obama, the country's first black president, said Friday he shared the "anguish" of millions of Americans over 46-year-old Floyd's death.
"This shouldn't be 'normal' in 2020 America," Obama said in a statement.
READ: Family demands murder charges after police killing of African American
Obama's former vice president Joe Biden, who is running for president, called for justice for Floyd and said it was time to heal the "open wound" of systemic racism in the United States.
But Trump lashed out at local officials for letting protests get out of hand and threatened a violent federal crackdown.
'PEOPLE ARE ANGRY'
"These THUGS are dishonouring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen," Trump tweeted.
"Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
The post sparked an angry pushback from critics who interpreted it as an incitement to violence, although Trump later denied this was his intention.
A man wearing a face mask holds a sign near a burning vehicle at the parking lot of a Target store during protests after a white police officer was caught on a bRead More – Source
[contf] [contfnew] 
channel news asia
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
