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Over 10,000 people detained in US since start of mass protests

AP agency noted that hundreds of those detained have been charged with looting and theft

MOSCOW, June 4. /TASS/. Over 10,000 people have been detained in the US since the start of mass protests in response to the death of US national George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, AP news agency informed on Wednesday bases on its own estimations.

Over a quarter of all arrests has been registered in Los Angeles (California), followed by New York, Dallas (Texas) and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Many of those detained have been charged with minor misdemeanours, such as violating the curfew. The agency noted that hundreds of those detained have been charged with looting and theft.

Widespread unrest has engulfed many US states over the death of an African-American Minneapolis man named George Floyd, who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck and choked him to death during his arrest. On May 26, all officers involved in the deadly arrest were fired. On May 29, the policeman in question, Derek Chauvin, was arrested on third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. However, on June 3, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison upped the charge against Chauvin to second-degree murder. The three other officers involved in the fatal incident were arrested as well and are now facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

To counter the riots, local law enforcement is often supported by the National Guard. So far, 40 cities, including New York, have enacted a curfew.