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Ferguson police shot during protest | Ferguson police shot during protest |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two US police officers have been shot in Ferguson, a Missouri town hit by riots over the killing of an unarmed black teenager last year. | Two US police officers have been shot in Ferguson, a Missouri town hit by riots over the killing of an unarmed black teenager last year. |
One officer was shot in the face and one in the shoulder, St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said. | One officer was shot in the face and one in the shoulder, St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said. |
Both suffered "very serious gunshot injuries" but were conscious, he said. | Both suffered "very serious gunshot injuries" but were conscious, he said. |
They were shot during a demonstration after the resignation of Ferguson's police chief, which followed a report alleging racial bias in his department. | They were shot during a demonstration after the resignation of Ferguson's police chief, which followed a report alleging racial bias in his department. |
Protesters had gathered outside Ferguson police headquarters late on Wednesday, in what was initially a relatively low-key demonstration. | Protesters had gathered outside Ferguson police headquarters late on Wednesday, in what was initially a relatively low-key demonstration. |
But shortly after midnight at least three shots were fired as the crowd of protesters was starting to break up, Mr Belmar said. | But shortly after midnight at least three shots were fired as the crowd of protesters was starting to break up, Mr Belmar said. |
He said he was assuming that "these shots were directed exactly at my police officers", rather than the officers being hit by stray bullets. | He said he was assuming that "these shots were directed exactly at my police officers", rather than the officers being hit by stray bullets. |
Several witnesses said the shots had come from a hill on the other side of the street from the crowd of protesters. | Several witnesses said the shots had come from a hill on the other side of the street from the crowd of protesters. |
One protester, Keith Rose, said he saw an officer "covered in blood", and that other officers were carrying and dragging him, leaving a trail of blood on the ground. | One protester, Keith Rose, said he saw an officer "covered in blood", and that other officers were carrying and dragging him, leaving a trail of blood on the ground. |
Demonstrators were calling for further action to be taken over the federal report, and for more resignations in the police department, Mr Rose said. | Demonstrators were calling for further action to be taken over the federal report, and for more resignations in the police department, Mr Rose said. |
Police chief Thomas Jackson was the sixth Ferguson official to be fired or step down. He had initially resisted calls from protesters and some state leaders to resign. | Police chief Thomas Jackson was the sixth Ferguson official to be fired or step down. He had initially resisted calls from protesters and some state leaders to resign. |
Mr Jackson was widely criticised after the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in August and the weeks of demonstrations that followed. | Mr Jackson was widely criticised after the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in August and the weeks of demonstrations that followed. |
Ferguson - key moments | Ferguson - key moments |
How Ferguson unrest spread | How Ferguson unrest spread |
Report on Ferguson police report - key findings | Report on Ferguson police report - key findings |
Brown's killing was one of several recent cases around the US in which the deaths of black men at the hands of the police have triggered protests. | |
In November, a St Louis County grand jury found that white police officer Darren Wilson did not break any laws when he shot Brown. | |
However, Brown's shooting and the riots that followed spurred a federal investigation. It found overwhelming racial bias in the town's policing practices, though Darren Wilson was cleared of civil rights violations. | |
The report noted public officials regularly made tickets and other minor violations "go away" for white friends, while some black residents spent nights in jail for non-payment of fines. | The report noted public officials regularly made tickets and other minor violations "go away" for white friends, while some black residents spent nights in jail for non-payment of fines. |
It also found that black residents were disproportionately subjected to baseless traffic stops and citations for minor infractions such as walking down the middle of the street. | It also found that black residents were disproportionately subjected to baseless traffic stops and citations for minor infractions such as walking down the middle of the street. |
Ferguson's police force had three black officers, despite the fact that the town of 21,000 people was predominantly black. | Ferguson's police force had three black officers, despite the fact that the town of 21,000 people was predominantly black. |
In a speech to mark the 50th anniversary of the Selma civil rights march in Alabama last weekend, US President Barack Obama called the narrative of the report on Ferguson "woefully familiar". | In a speech to mark the 50th anniversary of the Selma civil rights march in Alabama last weekend, US President Barack Obama called the narrative of the report on Ferguson "woefully familiar". |
Attorney General Eric Holder has said the federal government will "use all power that we have to change the situation". | Attorney General Eric Holder has said the federal government will "use all power that we have to change the situation". |
A local Democratic party leader, Patricia Bynes, said "a lot of anger" had built up in Ferguson because more action had not been taken sooner. | A local Democratic party leader, Patricia Bynes, said "a lot of anger" had built up in Ferguson because more action had not been taken sooner. |
The names of the two officers wounded on Thursday were not given, but Mr Belmar said one was a 32-year-old from a police department in another St Louis suburb, Webster Groves, and the other a 41-year-old from St Louis County police department. | The names of the two officers wounded on Thursday were not given, but Mr Belmar said one was a 32-year-old from a police department in another St Louis suburb, Webster Groves, and the other a 41-year-old from St Louis County police department. |
Are you in Ferguson? What's your reaction to the news? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to speak further with a BBC journalist please include a contact telephone number. | Are you in Ferguson? What's your reaction to the news? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to speak further with a BBC journalist please include a contact telephone number. |
Have your say | Have your say |