Violence, vandalism erupt in U.S. city over death of George Floyd

Violent protests over the death of George Floyd erupted early Monday morning in Albuquerque, U.S. state of New Mexico, with vandals damaging businesses and looting stores, local media reported.

According to local TV station, after a peaceful gathering and march Sunday night in downtown Albuquerque, the protests turned violent early Monday morning, causing damage to some downtown businesses.

Local newspaper Albuquerque Journal reported that protesters taunted police officers, shouting profanities at them. Protesters fired shots, threw what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail toward police. Video from the internet showed protesters smashing windows. Tear gas was also deployed by police.

Police said there was no injury reported.

A helicopter circled above after midnight, ordering the group of around 100 people to disband or be arrested, the report said.

Demonstrations and riots have spread to cities across the United States after a video went viral of George Floyd being suffocated to death by a white police officer in the mid-western U.S. state of Minnesota a week ago.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)