Troops deployed, curfew announced as Baltimore cleanup begins

Thousands of troops and outside police officers have been deployed to the US city of Baltimore, following violent protests linked to the death of a black man fatally injured in police custody.

A week-long curfew has been announced and schools and many businesses are closed.

On Monday, hundreds of people set fires, looted stores and confronted police across the city. City officials have been criticised for not responding more aggressively.

Volunteers and city workers began cleaning up affected areas on Tuesday morning as buildings still smoked from fires from the night before.

African American Freddie Gray, 25, died on 19 April after suffering injuries to his spinal cord and spending a week in a coma. The justice department is investigating exactly where and when his spinal injuries were sustained.

Officials have suspended six police officers who were involved in the case.

Monday's clashes began hours after Gray's funeral.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said it was very clear there was a difference between the "peaceful protests of those who seek justice" and the "thugs who want to incite violence".

Authorities were "deploying every resource possible to regain control of the situation", she said.

Later, following violence, looting and fires in various spots across the city of more than 620,000 people, she said: "This destruction we've seen this evening is heart-breaking."