Minnesota precinct torched amid protests
Probe launched into killing of black man
MINNEAPOLIS: A police precinct in Minnesota went up in flames late on Thursday in a third day of demonstrations as the so-called Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul seethed over the shocking police killing of a handcuffed black man.
The precinct, which police had abandoned, burned after a group of protesters pushed through barriers, breaking windows and chanting slogans.
A much larger crowd demonstrated as the building went up in flames.
The crowd was protesting the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died after Minneapolis police arrested him on Monday on suspicion of using a counterfeit banknote.
Police handcuffed him and held him to the ground, with a bystander video showing a officer pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck.
The videos showed Floyd saying that he couldn’t breathe until he went silent and limp. He was later declared dead.
Hundreds of people had begun
Protesters demonstrate in Downtown Columbus, Ohio.
marching in Minneapolis in the late afternoon while in St Paul, just to the east, police said there was ongoing looting as multiple fires were reported.
But later in the evening, a large crowd demonstrated outside the city’s Third Precinct.
“Shortly after 10pm tonight, in the interest of the safety of our personnel, the Minneapolis Police Department evacuated the 3rd Precinct of its staff,” city police said in a statement.
PROBE UNDER WAY
Officials assured angry residents that investigations into Floyd’s death were under way and warned that violence would not be tolerated.
“We know there’s a lot of anger,” said St Paul Police Chief Todd Axtel. “We know there’s a lot of hurt. “But we can’t tolerate people using this as an opportunity to commit crimes.”
At the request of both cities, State Governor Tim Walz called up hundreds of National Guard troops and state police to help with security.
“George Floyd’s death should lead to justice and systemic change, not more death and destruction,” Mr Walz said.
OUTRAGE SPREADS
Floyd’s family demanded the officer and three others who were present, all since fired, face murder charges.
“You know, I want an arrest for all four of those officers tonight,” Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, told CNN.
“A murder conviction for all four of those officers.
“I want the death penalty.
“I have not slept in four days, and those officers, they’re at home sleeping,” he said. “I can’t stand for that.”
African American leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, arrived in Minneapolis and urged more protests.
“We told the governor you must call murder a murder,” Mr Jackson told an audience at the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.
CASE IS ‘TOP PRIORITY’
Local and federal investigators said they were working the explosive case as fast as they could.
“The Department of Justice has made the investigation in this case a top priority,” said Erica MacDonald, the US federal attorney for Minnesota.
“To be clear, President Trump, as well as Attorney-General William
Barr, are directly monitoring the investigation.”
The White House said Mr Trump was “very upset” upon seeing the “egregious, appalling” video footage and demanded his staff see that the investigation was given top priority.
“He wants justice to be served,” Mr Trump’s press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters.