A CNN news team has been arrested while reporting on Minneapolis protests live on air.
Omar Jimenez had been covering the third night of protests in the US city over the death of an unarmed black man in custody on Monday.
A police officer was filmed kneeling on the neck of 46-year-old George Floyd as he warned he could not breathe.
Now US president Donald Trump has called on the National Guard to restore order in the city and called the protesters “thugs” who were dishonouring Floyd’s memory.
This morning on Twitter Trump said: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Are you actually kidding me? Minnesota police arrest a black CNN reporter live on air as he covers riots caused by police racism.
— Matthew Thompson (@mattuthompson) May 29, 2020
pic.twitter.com/6n6xKkvFZe
Floyd’s family is demanding that the four police officers implicated in his death face murder charges.
Police have been firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters to try to disperse them.
And this morning officers arrested a CNN news crew live on air because they were told to move and didn’t.
The shocking footage shows the cameras continue to roll as Jimenez is taken away by police in handcuffs, before each member of the team is cuffed and the camera is taken too.
The camera continues to film as the police officer carries it away.
A CNN statement reads: "A CNN reporter & his production team were arrested this morning in Minneapolis for doing their jobs, despite identifying themselves - a clear violation of their First Amendment rights..."
"The authorities in Minnesota, incl. the Governor, must release the 3 CNN employees immediately."
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