Wednesday, 11 April, 2001, 19:02 GMT 20:02 UK

US race protests turn violent


Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bags


Demonstrators have clashed with police in the US city of Cincinnati in protests over the killing of an unarmed black man by police on Saturday.

Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbags at demonstrators who looted, broke windows and set fire to a market in the city centre.

About 25 people were taken to hospital and another 40 were treated on the scene for injuries resulting from the attacks and from bean bag and rubber bullet rounds, according to police.


Police made at least 20 arrests for rioting and disorderly conduct

 
The protests came three days after Timothy Thomas, 19, was shot as he fled from police.

The clashes resulted in the arrest of at least 20 people on charges of rioting and disorderly conduct, police said.

Fatal shooting

Protestors ignored pleas for calm from Mayor Charles Luken in a press conference on Tuesday night at City Hall, as police stood guard over the front door in riot gear.

The mayor called on the protestors to end the violence and begin dialogue.

"If we can't do that," Mayor Luken said, "then I'm not optimistic that the future will be that much better than the past."

The teenager whose death sparked the protests was wanted on 14 arrest warrants, of which 12 were for traffic violations.

Mr Thomas was the 15th person to be killed by Cincinnati police since 1995 and the fourth since November. All of those killed have been black men.

The FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting on Tuesday.