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Missouri unrest swells over police murder

A SECOND night of unrest in the US city of Ferguson, Missouri, saw police fire tear gas and “beanbag rounds” into crowds protesting against the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown at the weekend.

St Louis county police spokesman Brian Schellman reported “at least five” arrests during the confrontation.

Police said that 18-year-old Mr Brown died when a firearm was “discharged” following a “scuffle” — but witnesses said that he had his hands in the air when an officer, who has not been named, shot him repeatedly.

The FBI is investigating the shooting, which sparked riots and looting on Sunday night. Over three dozen were arrested afterwards.

Civil rights leaders and activists for the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People have compared Mr Brown’s death with the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old who was shot dead by neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February 2012. Mr Zimmerman was later acquitted of Mr Martin’s murder.

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