Sheeran and U2 axe gigs after police acquittal sparks riot

SINGER Ed Sheeran and rock band U2 were forced to call off concerts in St Louis, Missouri, after violent protests over the acquittal of a white police officer who shot and killed a black man.

The gigs were cancelled because police said they were ‘not in a position to provide the standard protection for our audience’.

Crowds have been protesting since Friday when a judge cleared Jason Stockley of murdering Anthony Lamar Smith, a suspected drug dealer, following a high-speed chase in 2011.

Mr Stockley was recorded saying: ‘Gonna kill this mother **** er, don’t you know it’ while chasing after Mr Smith. He later shot him five times.

The case has drawn a lot of attention in St Louis, where racial tensions have been high

‘Cannot risk our fans’ safety’

since the 2014 killing of a black man in the city’s suburb of Ferguson by a white police officer.

Disturbances began in the afternoon as protesters took to the streets after the court verdict. They continued into the weekend when an ‘unruly crowd became a mob’.

The home of St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson suffered considerable damage, police say, as protesters ignored orders to disperse. More than 33 protesters were arrested and 11 police officers were injured in Friday night’s scuffles.

A statement cancelling the U2 gig said: ‘We have been informed by the St Louis Police Department they are not in a position to provide the protection for our audience as would be expected for an event of this size.

‘We cannot risk our fans’ safety by proceeding with tonight’s concert.’