A state of emergency has been declared in Baltimore after the city transformed into 'an absolute war zone' following the funeral of
Freddie Gray. More than 1,000 Maryland police officers, the Maryland National Guard, and 5,000 officers from neighboring states are on standby in the city and the president has been briefed on the situation as violence continues to escalate. It is the same level of reinforcement the city requested during the riots of 1968 after
Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
The scenes of destruction were initially billed as anti-police protests to avenge the death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a fatal spinal cord injury in police custody on April 12. But it rapidly mushroomed into uncontrolled riots.
Baltimore police had arrested Gray on Sunday, April 12th, and during the course of the arrest and being transported to the police station, he suffered a severe spinal cord injury, his voice box was crushed, and his neck snapped. He eventually went into a coma, and died days later.
Gray’s funeral was held on Monday, April 27th, and on that same day, angry residents stormed the streets to protest but unfortunately, the protests became violent leading to attacks on police officers. Police cars and several buildings and businesses were also set ablaze.
15 police officers have been injured, many suffering broken bones, and at least one appeared 'unresponsive'. Two of the 15 are in hospital in a serious condition. At least 27 people have been arrested.
A $16 million nursing home built by a Baptist church, which was due to open in December after 8 years of construction, has been burned to rubble on the city's east side as violence spread from the west of the city. Just two blocks away, a housing development was also ablaze.
Even as the governor of Maryland pledged the highest level of support available, police continued to be pelted with rocks and families were forced to flee their homes as fires spread from block to block.
Source: CNN / Dailymail
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