Share

Tear gas fired at protesters after US teen's death

Washington - Missouri police fired tear gas and smoke bombs late on Wednesday at a crowd of protesters demonstrating against the death of an unarmed black teen by an officer, US media reported.

CNN and other media reported that police officers in riot gear marched toward the protesters near a burned out gas station where demonstrators have gathered in the town of Ferguson, a St Louis suburb.

Police separately arrested two journalists reporting on the unrest that has roiled Ferguson since aspiring college student Michael Brown, aged 18, and died on Saturday in a police shooting.

His death has triggered rioting and stirred comparisons to the February 2012 fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida.

Wesley Lowery, a Washington Post political reporter, and Ryan Reilly, a Huffington Post reporter, were arrested in a McDonald's after police entered the restaurant and ordered people to leave, the pair wrote on Twitter.

In a series of tweets, Lowery said they were given no explanation for their arrest other than "trespassing" and were not charged with any offenses before being released.

"I'm emotional, but need to note: Ryan and I are fine. Have seen people in Ferguson hurt by gas/rubber bullets. This wasn't that", Lowery tweeted.

Lowery also said the police officers "assaulted" him because the two reporters were not leaving the McDonald's quickly enough.

Reilly also described the pair's arrest in a series of tweets.

"SWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo", he wrote.

New shots fired

Earlier, police fired several shots at a 19-year-old who pointed a handgun in their direction as they dispersed around 30 people who had gathered near where the rioting had occurred, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The young man was taken to hospital and his name has not been released.

In Los Angeles, police shot and killed a black man on Monday during what they called an "investigative stop".

"It is unknown if the suspect has any gang affiliations", the Los Angeles police department said in a statement.

"The suspect was transported to a local hospital and after lifesaving efforts he succumbed to his injuries."

Officials in Ferguson urged demonstrators to remain calm.

Mayor James Knowles called for "any groups wishing to assemble in prayer or in protest do so only during daylight".

"Unfortunately, those who wish to co-opt peaceful protests and turn them into violent demonstrations have been able to do so over the past several days during the evening hours", said a statement issued by Knowles and the Ferguson City Council.

Looters targeted more than a dozen businesses in the St Louis suburb overnight on Sunday after a vigil on the sidewalk where Brown died erupted into clashes with police armed with tear gas, clubs and rubber bullets.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama appealed for calm after the "heartbreaking" incident, noting that the FBI had opened a civil rights investigation into Brown's death.

Witnesses and police have given conflicting versions of how the teenager was shot in broad daylight, two days before he was due to start college.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 425 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 604 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.93
+0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.90
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.40
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE