 |
| Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in riot gear who deployed teargas and flash bangs to disperse the crowds. (Photo from theguardian) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] About 40 people were arrested just north of Minneapolis in the second night of unrest over the police shooting of a black man. BBC reported that protesters in the city of Brooklyn Center defied a curfew and threw objects at police, who responded with flash grenades and tear gas.
Police said Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and died after an officer mistook her gun for a Taser during a traffic stop. The shooting came as the high-profile George Floyd murder trial continues. City officials had said the shooting couldn’t have happened at a worse time, with tensions high over the George Floyd case. Police Chief Tim Gannon believed the shooting of Mr. Wright to be "an accidental discharge". The officer has been placed on administrative leave - temporary leave with benefits and salary still paid.
In a press briefing after midnight local time, Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer said officers had reached out to organizers to try to keep protests peaceful but "unfortunately... the organizers weren't able to influence the desires of the crowd". Col Langer said officers had been "shelled pretty significantly with objects" including fireworks. There were "sporadic" incidents of looting in the area and in other parts of Minneapolis and neighboring St Paul.
