Freddie Gray protests gain support in US cities

International media reports say that protests are taking place in several US cities over Freddie Gray, whose death from injuries sustained in police custody has stoked riots and violence in his hometown Baltimore. Hundreds of people gathered in New York's Union Square, where police arrested at least 60 people and there were also rallies in Washington DC, Boston and Minneapolis.

The case is also reminiscent of the death of a black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri last summer, which sparked a national debate over the use of police force.

The US Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the death of Gray, who suffered fatal spinal injuries when arrested by police. His funeral took place on Monday and was followed by widespread rioting, arson and looting, which led to a curfew on the streets of Baltimore from 22:00 to 05:00.

Hours before the second night of curfew, on Wednesday evening, a large march made its way through Baltimore's streets while in New York, where protesters said they were demonstrating in solidarity with the people of Baltimore, they chanted "no justice, no peace" and "hands up, don't shoot".

How Gray got his injuries is, as yet unclear. An internal inquiry is being conducted by the police aside from an investigation by the department of justice. The preliminary results of that police probe will not be released on Friday, as was expected, it has emerged, but six police officers have been suspended with pay while this investigation is carried out.