George Floyd protests - live: Attorney says three officers will be charged over killing, as bishops from church express outrage over Trump photo op

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Trump threatens to deploy 'heavily armed' US military to crush George Floyd protests

George Floyd's family is still expecting and waiting for the three other former police officers present during the death, while the Minneapolis Police Department is coming under scrutiny with a civil rights investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

It comes as Donald Trump received widespread backlash "law and order" speech that led to riot police clearing out protesters before he posed for photos at St John's Church, which Washington clergy called "baffling and reprehensible".

Attorney General William Barr was said to have ordered the area cleared for the president, which prompted House Democrats to call the Secret Service to brief congress about the violent dispersal.

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Key Points

• Mother of George Floyd's daughter calls for justice​
• Former correctional officer charged with driving into Indiana protest
• Kellyanne Conway says it was attorney general who ordered DC area be cleared of protesters
• Civil rights investigation launched into Minneapolis Police Department 
• Three officers to be criminally charged for Floyd's death, attorney says
• Bishops outraged as priests forced from church by police
• Trump threatens to deploy military to end protests
• Private post-mortem classifies cause of death as asphyxia 
• Police officer shot during Las Vegas protests
• EU 'shocked and appalled' by police 'abuse of power'

[2 June 2020 07:56 · Chiara.Giordano]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's rolling coverage of the latest protests across the US following the death of George Floyd in police custody. 

We will bring all the major developments throughout the day following a sixth consecutive night of chaotic demonstrations. 

[2 June 2020 08:00 · Chiara.Giordano]

Donald Trump has vowed to end violent protests across the country, threatening to deploy “heavily armed” US military troops to cities even if mayors and governors object.

The president spoke at the White House with the sound of police firing tear gas at protesters in Washington audible behind him.

[2 June 2020 08:01 · Chiara.Giordano]

An independent post-mortem examination commissioned by Mr Floyd's family has concluded he died from asphyxiation caused by neck and back compression during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.

Medical examiners found pressure on Mr Floyd’s carotid artery impeded blood flow to his brain and weight on his back impeded his ability to breathe.

[2 June 2020 08:11 · Chiara.Giordano]

Two officers injured as car drives into police in New York

At least two police officers have been injured after a vehicle drove through a group of police and National Guard troops at a demonstration in support of George Floyd in upstate New York.

Video from the scene shows the vehicle accelerating through an intersection in Buffalo, almost 400 miles north-west of Manhattan, shortly after several officers apparently tackle a person on the street before handcuffing them.

Other officers are then seen tending to the injured officers on the sidewalk, while the vehicle drives off past a military vehicle on Buffalo's east side.

The officers were taken to Erie County Medical Centre, where authorities said their condition was stable.

Meanwhile, police made unrelated arrests inside iconic department store Macy's in Manhattan as violence and protests continued in streets across the country.

AP

[2 June 2020 08:14 · Chiara.Giordano]

The incident in Buffalo comes after a live broadcast from protests in Boston captured the moment an SUV appeared to drive into a crowd in the late hours of Sunday.

[2 June 2020 08:20 · Chiara.Giordano]

Floyd Mayweather has offered to pay for the funeral of George Floyd.

The undefeated former boxer has reportedly contacted Mr Floyd's family and the offer has been accepted.

[2 June 2020 08:26 · Chiara.Giordano]

Experts are warning the large gatherings being held across the US in protest of the death of George Floyd could be a massive setback for attempts to control the novel coronavirus across the country.

[2 June 2020 08:30 · Chiara.Giordano]

Four police officers shot in St Louis

Police say four officers were hit by gunfire in St Louis, Missouri, after protests in the city which started peacefully on Monday became violent overnight, with demonstrators smashing windows and stealing items from businesses and fires burning in the central area.

The police department has tweeted that the officers were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. It was unclear who fired the shots.

 Police chief Colonel John Hayden said two of the officers were shot in the leg, one in the foot, and the other in the arm.

[2 June 2020 08:36 · Chiara.Giordano]

Two killed during unrest in Chicago

Two people have been killed during unrest in the Chicago suburb of Cicero as protests, according to a town official.

Spokesman Ray Hanania says 60 people were arrested in the town of about 84,000 located west of Chicago - but did not provide additional information about those killed or the circumstances of their deaths.

The Illinois State Police and Cook County Sheriff's Office were called in to help local police Monday as people broke into a liquor store and other businesses and stole items.

[2 June 2020 08:42 · Chiara.Giordano]

Terrence Floyd has called for an end to the violence - and urged people to vote - after visiting the scene where his brother George was detained by four police officers, resulting in his death.